Ukraine conflict has overshadowed the Syria donor conference in Bruseels

BRUSSELS: International donors attended their sixth pledge conference for Syria on Tuesday in Brussels, saying Syrians should not be forgotten even as the Ukraine crisis dominates headlines.

As he launched the gathering, EU foreign policy leader Josep Borrell remarked, “World public opinion seems not to be able to deal with more than one crisis at a time.”

He admitted “a certain fatigue” among donors, adding: “Now it is Ukraine in the headlines. But don’t give up on Syria.“

Last year’s donors’ conference raised $6.4 billion (6.1 billion euros), with the funds going to help Syrians and neighbouring nations dealing with Syrian refugees, rather than the Damascus government.

A large portion of the funds will go to Syrians seeking sanctuary in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey, as well as Egypt and Iraq.

Around 70 countries and international organisations, including UN agencies, attended the summit.

Borrell promised an additional one billion euros for 2022, bringing the total amount pledged to 1.56 billion euros, the same as last year.

Furthermore, EU member states made national contributions, with the total amount raised to be distributed later on Tuesday.

She stated that her country would contribute 700 million kroner ($70 million) to the cause.

UNICEF estimates that 9.3 million Syrian children require assistance both within Syria and in the surrounding region.

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