LOC15:52
12:52 GMT
KUWAIT, March 31 (KUNA) -- The EU on Tuesday pledged EUR 500 million (USD 538 million) at Kuwait-hosted donor talks for Syrian humanitarian aid, early recovery and longer-term stabilisation assistance, which nearly triples its contribution from last year.
"Together, the European Commission and member states pledged close to EUR 1.1 billion - double the overall EU pledge at the 2014 (Kuwait II) Conference," Christos Stylianides, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, told governments attending the aid-pledging talks.
The EU official described the currently four-year conflict as "testing the capacities of the entire international aid system," indicating that "the needs are overwhelming and an extraordinary effort is needed by the wider donor community to mobilise significant funding.
"With our substantial contribution, the European Union - Commission and the Member States - shoulders its responsibility to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people" amid the conflict he described as the "biggest humanitarian tragedy since World War II."
He added that he had witnessed "reassuring" international commitment, adding "more needs to be done."
Stylianides appealed to donors to "step up their efforts," before adding "the Syrian people are counting on us."
He went on to mention several facts and figures, including "more than 11.5 million people" who have been forced to flee their homes, including 3.9 million who fled to neighbouring countries, and "more than 12 million people" who are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance inside Syria alone.
In addition, he said the EU recently set up the "Madad Trust Fund for Syria in order to improve the delivery of assistance for resilience and recovery activities in Syria and its neighbouring countries affected by the conflict." (end)
kt.sd