UN chief calls on donors to address rising needs in Syria

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on donors to help address rising needs and to step up financial and humanitarian commitments to help Syrians and to "relieve the significant financial burden of the countries that are hosting refugees."

In a video message to the fifth Brussels Conference in support of Syria and the region, Guterres said, "For ten years, Syrians have endured death, destruction, displacement and deprivation. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed and millions injured. Over half the population has been forced from their homes."

The Brussels Conference, hosted by the European Union, is seeking pledges up to US$10 billion from donors, US$4.2 billion for people in Syria and US$5.8 billion for refugees and their hosts.

Guterres said: "For many, the humanitarian aid and protection brought by UN agencies and our humanitarian partners is their only source of survival. Every month, humanitarians bring help to 7.6 million people in Syria, including through cross-line and cross-border operations. This is only possible thanks to the extraordinary commitment and endurance of humanitarians and health workers on the front lines."

At last year's conference in Brussels, donors pledged US$5.5 billion in funding to support humanitarian, resilience and development activities in 2020.