European conference pledges billions in aid to help rebuild Syria

Almost $6.5 billion has been pledged by European nations to help rebuild Syria after the civil war that ravaged the country for over 14 years.

At the 9th International Conference in Support of Syria at European Council headquarters in Brussels on Monday it was decided that $4.6 billion would be given as grants, with another $1.7 billion in low-interest loans. The total, which exceeds $6.3 billion, is lower than last year’s commitment of $8.1 billion.

The aid is intended to help Syria’s new leadership rebuild infrastructure and encourage a peaceful political transition.

In previous years, aid was given to countries surrounding Syria who were absorbing the refugees, as opposed to giving aid directly to the Assad regime. Now funds will be given directly to the new government in Syria.

President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, posted on 𝕏: “In the past, we have worked for Syria and for Syrians. Today, we can finally work with Syria. The future of Syria is for all Syrians to build. For every step towards an inclusive political transition, the EU will step up its support.” 

According to World Vision, some 14 million people have been forcibly displaced by the war, more than half of whom left Syria entirely following a crackdown by Assad in 2011. The charity also states that of those remaining in Syria, some 90% are living below the poverty line as of December 2024, and 16.7 million are in need of humanitarian aid, according to UN agencies.

There has been extensive damage to the Syrian economy and infrastructure, and rebuilding is projected to cost anywhere between $250 billion to $400 billion. Syria’s new leadership, headed by former Islamist rebel commander Ahmed al-Sharaa, has been urging other nations to help with the overwhelming needs. 

In a video message thanking the conference, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The United Nations remains committed to helping Syrians build a country where reconciliation, justice, freedom, and prosperity are shared realities for all.”

The gathering takes place against the backdrop of outbreaks of violence against some of Syria’s minorities, such as Alawites and Christians. It is not yet clear whether the new government’s promises to protect the rights of minorities will be upheld.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani assured the conference that all communities within Syria would receive help, and that the return of refugees would be facilitated. "We believe in the true sense of citizenship, the citizenship of every single citizen of Syria, regardless of their ethnicity or religion," he said. 

French news outlet Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported that this is the first time that Syrian authorities were represented at the annual conference in Brussels. 

Over the past 14 years, the U.S. has given the largest amount in aid to Syria but this year the largest donor was Germany who committed $326 million, while the UK pledged up to $208 million. The U.S. has not announced any new commitment in funding.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Natasha Franceschi told the conference, "We will continue to provide certain assistance in line with US policies and laws, but we also now expect that other nations are going to help shoulder the financial burden," she said. 

"We will give more, but we cannot fill the gap left by the US," EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib has said, according to RFI. "We will need to share the burden."