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The EU significantly increased its funding in response to the Syria crisis at today's Third International Pledging Conference for Syria in Kuwait. Together, the European Commission and Member States pledged close to €1.1 billion – double the overall EU pledge at the 2014 conference. The EU continues to be the largest donor to the Syria crisis.
Of the total, the European institutions are contributing €500 million in humanitarian aid, early recovery and longer-term stabilisation assistance. This nearly triples the contribution from last year.
Christos Stylianides, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, who presented the EU's pledge in Kuwait today said, "The magnitude of the Syria crisis is testing the capacities of the entire international aid system. The needs are overwhelming and an extraordinary effort is needed by the wider donor community to mobilise significant funding. With our substantial contribution, the EU – Commission and the Member States – shoulders its responsibility to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people".
The situation in Syria is worsening every day and it is becoming increasingly difficult for humanitarian organisations to reach those in need. Since the start of the conflict in Syria, more than 11.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes, including 3.9 million who fled to neighbouring countries, and more than 12 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance inside Syria alone – an increase of 30 percent compared to one year ago.
The EU continues to lead the international response to the Syria crisis with so far over €3.35 billion mobilised by the Commission and Member States collectively in humanitarian, development, economic and stabilisation assistance. Last year, the EU's combined pledge (Commission and Member States) was the biggest contribution at Kuwait II (€550 million), representing one third of the overall amount pledged.
