World Leaders Pledge Over $10 Billion To Fund Education, Shelter, Aid For Syrian Refugees
An international conference meeting held in London was participated by several leaders across the globe last Thursday. During the event, leaders from different countries pledged more than $10 billion to help displaced Syrians in their education, job, and shelter needs.
USA Today reported on February 4 that British Prime Minister David Cameron pledged $1.7 billion until 2020, United States Secretary of State John Kerry would provide $925 million this year, German Chancellor Angela Merkel committed $2.6 billion until 2018, Norway would give $1.1 billion while France would provide $1 billion.
These pledges were made following the crisis faced by the Syrian people because of the unrest. Reports said there are about 4.6 million displaced Syrians who had sought refuge and asylum in neighboring countries including Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. Another 11 million were internally displaced.
"After almost five years of fighting, it's pretty incredible that as we come here in London in 2016, the situation on the ground is actually worse," said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, as quoted by the Korea Herald in its February 5 report.
The one-day conference was held to call for international donations to slow down the influx of migration by millions of Syrians to Europe and to provide educational and economic assistance to those who have fled to Syria's neighboring countries.
"People are reduced to eating grass and leaves and killing stray animals in order to survive on a day-to-day basis," said Jordan King Abdullah. "That is something that should tear at the conscience of all civilized people, and we all have a responsibility to respond to it."
The meeting came after the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, announced the "temporary pause" of the indirect peace talks between the opposition leaders and government of Syria.
While others perceived the aid money as helpful and vital to the survival of the displaced people, others, like Chief Executive Mark Goldring of Great Britain's Oxfam, said it would not actually solve the crisis if the massive violations in Syria would not end.
"Governments in London can't rest on their laurels when the peace talks in Geneva are faltering, and the violence continues unabated," Goldring said.
