Syria aid conference raises $10bn
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Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that donor nations meeting in London have pledged more than ten billion dollars to help Syrians who have had their lives detrimentally impacted by the five-year civil war.
The EU pledged $3.3 billion, which equates to around £2.5 million, while the UK has committed to an extra $1.7 billion until 2020. One million jobs and a further one million school places for refugees in bordering countries will be created with the money, as well as providing millions with “life-saving” food, medical care and shelter, according to Mr Cameron.
One reason for the nine billion dollars being requested is due to an appeal from the UN to raise $7.7 billion that has been underfunded. Just 43% of the three billion dollars pledged to the 2015 appeal from the UN has so far been funded, causing many to brand international governments as isolationist and disengaged.
Currently, the aim is to aid the 4.6 million refugees and 13.5 million people in need of assistance currently inside of Syria. The conflict that has so far driven over eleven million people from their homes has had no mercy while rebel groups fight the government, exposing many parts of Syria to the so-called Islamic State.
Sixty countries are a part of the conference, including thirty world leaders. Mr Cameron said at the end of the day-long conference that $6bn had been pledged for 2016 alone, and a further $5bn over the coming years until 2020.