UN seek multi-billion dollar aid for Syria

The United Nations will seek billions of dollars in additional aid for Syria on Thursday, seeking to overcome fatigue among donors after eight years of civil war and divisions over how to deal with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The UN estimates that $5.5 billion (4.4 billion euros) are needed to help the approximately 5.6 million Syrians forced to flee their country to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt.

A further $3.3 billion is earmarked for populations inside Syria facing a humanitarian situation described by the Medecins du Monde aid agency as "unsustainable".

"We don't want the people of Syria to be forgotten at a time when the international community seems to care a little bit less," said Federica Mogherini, foreign policy chief for the European Union, the world's biggest aid donor, which is hosting the conference with the United Nations. "It's not over yet."

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, who recently visited Syria, said around 70 percent of Syrian refugees live a "razor-edge" existence in poverty.

As the conflict enters its ninth year, about 11.7 million Syrians still depend on aid. Almost as many have fled or been displaced inside the country.

European countries have warned the money must not prop up Bashar Assad’s regime.

Despite funding by the EU, Norway and some Gulf countries, last year 65 percent of the $3.4 billion sought for people inside Syria came through. A demand for $5.6 billion for the region's refugee was 62 percent funded, the United Nations said.

Donors must contend with U.S. President Donald Trump's demand that allies carry more of the burden. His government last year failed to submit a pledge, although U.S. funding commitments eventually came in, EU diplomats said.

U.S. Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey, who is expected at the Brussels conference, said in a statement that he would "reaffirm U.S. support for humanitarian assistance to all Syrians".

Several donors committed themselves over three years at the 2018 conference. France promised 1.1 billion euros for the period 2018 to 2020. Commitments for 2019 and 2020 totaled $3.4 billion.