$6bn aid target at Syria conference in Brussels
International aid organisations are to meet in Brussels today for a two-day donor conference to discuss Syria’s future.
Brussels has invited about 85 governments and non-government agencies to raise US$6 billion (Dh22.04bn) for humanitarian aid, reconstruction and de-mining of shattered cities as the conflict enters its eighth year.
“The meeting is going to be about how the international community is committing to putting an end to the crisis and to meet the dire needs of people suffering,” Oxfam’s policy adviser, Julien Vaissier, told The National.
Some of the biggest aid donors include the US, EU, Norway and Japan.
The conference will be the third annual meeting since London in 2016 and Brussels last year. It will attempt to bring change for millions of vulnerable Syrians.
Ahead of the conference, the UN children’s fund is calling for the international arena to focus on developing children’s education.
Geert Cappelaere, Unicef regional director for Middle East and North Africa, told
The National that the organisation was calling for an end to the war, as destruction and death continue to tear apart lives.
“Children have suffered way too much already, and therefore those responsible for and have influence over the fighting must exercise their authority to end this war – to end it today,” Mr Cappelaere said.
The conflict has caused 2.8 million children to miss out on their education, he said.
“We need to continue to increase our efforts to keep the children who are going to schools in school, but also to get those that are out of school to benefit from education,” Mr Cappelaere said.
Unicef’s particular concern is adolescent children who are not attending school.
The organisation is calling on the international community to ensure that children can concentrate on their education and are not forced to work.
“Of the 2.8 million who are out of school, 40 per cent are 15 to 17 years old,” Mr Cappelaere said.
Save the Children is calling on the international community to ensure investment is made in a safe, quality and affordable education.
“What we are asking of the international community is to honour the pledges they made in London,” Jacqueline Hale, head of advocacy in Save the Children’s Brussels office, told