Off the wire
• Chinese drug MIL-77 used to cure British Ebola patient  • Chinese developer Vanke unveils grand pavilion in Milan Expo  • Roundup: Britain marks 50th anniversary of wartime leader Churchill's death  • UN concerned about deteriorating situation in northwestern Syria  • Instead of agreement, Iran nuclear negotiators may issue statement: source  • Zambia FA says coach Janza's job intact  • South African organization wins Swedish award for youth literature  • 3 killed in militant attack in N.E. India  • Judo gains popularity as Kenya targets Africa conquest  • Putin agrees to extend gas deal with Ukraine by three months  
You are here: 　 Home

Roundup: Kuwait holds donor conference for Syrian refugees

Xinhua, April 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

International donors fell short of the pledged 8.4 billion U.S. dollars appeal set for Syria by the UN at the third international donor conference in Kuwait to 3.8 billion dollars Tuesday.

Speaking at the conference, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the international community displayed solidarity in agreeing to further fund UN aid programs for Syria, adding that the Syrian crisis is the "worst humanitarian crisis of our time. The Syrians do not want sympathy, they are asking for help."

In addition to financial aid, Ban said the best humanitarian solution to end the turmoil is a political solution to halt the war.

According to a UN report, Syrian refugees need 8.4 billion dollars for 2015, where 2.9 billion dollars will be dedicated to internally displaced Syrians, with the rest for Syrians who have fled the country.

UNHCR said the funds will cover food, health, shelter and other expenses for the 12.2 million refugees in Syria and almost four million refugees who have moved to neighboring countries including Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.

Representatives from 78 countries and 40 international organizations attempted to meet the UN's appeal, which was significantly higher than the 3.9 billion dollars raised in the previous two conferences.

The fund will be distributed to UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO, WFP and other UN humanitarian aid agencies.

On behalf of Kuwait, Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah pledged 500 million dollars. He also said the Syrian crisis is "the biggest humanitarian catastrophe in mankind's modern history."

Participating Chinese Middle East Special Envoy Gong Xiaosheng called on the international community to unite in fighting regional terrorism and work towards a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

Kuwaiti and international NGOs contributed 506 million dollars in a non-governmental organization fundraiser held Monday.

The Syrian crisis has raged on for over four years, in which 220,000 died, 12 million became homeless, and the average life expectancy of Syrians fell by 20 years. Endit