Donors pledge $5.4 billion for Syrian refugees

International donors, spearheaded by the European Union, have committed five billion euros ($5.4 billion) to aid Syrian refugees, with Brussels emphasizing that they should not be forced to return to their war-ravaged homeland.

In an annual meeting hosted by the EU and chaired by its foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the European Union pledged 2.12 billion euros for 2024 and 2025. This commitment includes 560 million euros already allocated for this year for Syrians displaced within Syria and in Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq, with the same amount earmarked for 2025. Additionally, the EU promised one billion euros for Syrian refugees in Turkey.

“The situation in Syria is more dire today than one year ago. In fact, it has never been so dire and humanitarian needs are at an all-time high,” Borrell stated. “Today, 16.7 million Syrians need humanitarian assistance, the highest level since the crisis began over 13 years ago.”

EU humanitarian chief Janez Lenarcic noted that besides the five billion euros in grants, donors have also pledged an additional 2.5 billion euros in loans. He mentioned that the EU and its member states contributed three-quarters of the grants.

The United States announced nearly 545 million euros ($593 million) in humanitarian aid for Syria. A State Department statement confirmed, “Washington remains committed to assisting the Syrian people and encourages other donors to continue their support for Syrians.”

The donor conference came after the United Nations refugee agency warned that its operations supporting displaced Syrians remained “significantly underfunded at 15 percent almost six months into 2024.”

“While we welcome the pledges made today, the discussion remains far removed from the harsh realities Syrians face,” said Oxfam’s Syria director, Moutaz Adham. “Funding still fails to match the scale of needs, and year after year, the number of people relying on aid grows.”

In light of these funding gaps, countries in the region hosting millions of Syrian refugees have been pushing for “voluntary” returns to Syria. However, Borrell cautioned against any measures forcing refugees back.

“We warn against the so-called voluntary returns of Syrian refugees to Syria,” he stated. “Voluntary returns mean voluntary. The refugees should not be pushed back to Syria.”

Borrell stressed that the international community should not “incentivize this by any means.” He added, “We consider that there are currently no conditions for safe, voluntary, informed, and dignified returns of refugees to Syria.”

The conflict in Syria has claimed over half a million lives and displaced millions since it began in 2011 following the crackdown on anti-government protests. The World Bank reported that more than a quarter of Syrians now live in extreme poverty, 13 years into a civil war that has devastated the economy.

Borrell noted that efforts to achieve a political resolution to the conflict remain stalled. “The Assad regime has shown no intention of engaging in any meaningful political process,” he said. “We urge everyone, including regional partners, to use their influence to encourage a renewed push for the political process.”