At the recent international Syria conference held in Brussels, donor countries pledged a total of 5.8 billion euros to support humanitarian efforts, but this amount is significantly less than the aid committed last year. This sum consists of 4.2 billion euros allocated as grants and 1.6 billion euros as loans. EU Commissioner Dubravka Suica announced these figures on March 17, 2025, emphasizing the urgent need for aid as Syria continues to grapple with the devastating aftermath of its prolonged civil war.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed the European Union's commitment to increase its support for Syrian citizens, pledging nearly 2.5 billion euros for the years 2025 and 2026. “The European Union increases its commitment to Syrians in the country and the region to almost 2.5 billion euros for 2025 and 2026,” von der Leyen stated during the conference, highlighting the pressing necessity for comprehensive assistance.
For the first time, Syrian authorities were present at the annual conference, led by acting Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shibani. His presence marked a notable moment of engagement between the Syrian government and international donors. Al-Shibani extended gratitude toward the EU for its past support, including the lifting of sanctions. He also called for “further measures” to aid the country and its citizens.
Austria contributed 19.3 million euros to the humanitarian assistance budget, which had already been committed last year. Overall, Vienna allocated over 30 million euros for humanitarian needs targeting Syria and its neighboring countries for 2024. Meanwhile, the UK pledged 160 million pounds (approximately 190 million euros), aiming to provide significant essentials like water, food, healthcare, and educational resources to the afflicted Syrian population.
Despite substantial financial pledges, concerns about Syria's dire humanitarian situation are mounting. A week prior to the conference, intense fighting erupted in western Syria, resulting in the deadliest clashes since the Islamist HTS militia ousted former President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 1,383 civilians, many of whom belong to the Alawite minority, were killed during these conflicts, underscoring the urgent need for foreign aid.
The civil war, now 14 years old, has left large parts of Syria devastated, with approximately 16.7 million people requiring humanitarian assistance. The International Red Cross has issued warnings stating without adequate support, Syria could face another wave of migration. President Mirjana Spoljaric noted, “as long as schools, hospitals, access to water, and electricity remain nonexistent, people are forced to leave.”
Germany's commitment of 300 million euros was also announced at the conference, mainly targeting the humanitarian fallout of the prolonged conflict. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock highlighted, “the peaceful reconstruction of the country is a mammoth task.” More than half of these funds are expected to benefit Syrians amid the chaos, along with helping support Syrian refugees and their host communities across Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey.
Baerbock reiterated Germany’s insistence on transparency, expressing the need for the transitional government to oversee security forces effectively. “The transitional government must guarantee control over the various actors within their security apparatus,” she emphasized. This statement followed violent clashes involving armed supporters of the ousted Assad regime attacking security personnel, which led to military retaliations from the transitional government.
New grounds of conflict have emerged along the Lebanese border, driven by the kidnapping and subsequent killing of three Syrian soldiers by the Hezbollah militia. Syria reported these developments as intensifying security risks along the border, where long-standing tensions with Lebanon prevail, complicting the situation for civilians seeking aid.
With the situation continuing to deteriorate, international organizations are sounding alarms about the consequences of instability not just for Syria but for the region as well. Efforts to rebuild will face monumental challenges as the humanitarian crisis deepens. Without concerted efforts to address both immediate needs and the longer-term rebuilding of the war-torn nation, millions will remain at risk.
Looking forward, the results of this conference will be closely monitored as the international community grapples with not only protecting those affected by the conflict but also investing resources toward stabilizing Syria's future.
The conference spotlighted the significant disparity between the pledges made this year and the stark humanitarian needs on the ground, raising questions about the sustainability of international support amid shifting political landscapes. Aid workers and observers alike remain hopeful but cautious, as they know Syria's path to recovery will be fraught with challenges, requiring consistent and dedicated international cooperation.
