Leaders seek aid for Syria; regional stability elusive

The pledges of aid at a donors conference in London slightly exceeded the meeting’s goal, avoiding the failure of a similar conference this past year, when cutbacks in aid helped spur mass migration of refugees to Europe.

Conference officials say the aid will go to providing food, water, and medical care to those displaced by the war.

Cameron also said that the extra funding pledges should ensure that a million more children will be given an education, requiring Lebanon to double the number of Syrians in school.

Ban said it was disturbing that the first steps in the Geneva peace talks had been undermined by a lack of sufficient humanitarian access and by a sudden increase in aerial bombing and military activity on the ground.

The talks were paused as fighting intensified in Syria: The regime of President Bashar Assad, with backing from Russian airstrikes, cut off the main rebel supply line between Aleppo and Turkey this week, Alison Meuse reported Wednesday.

Mr Cameron explained that £4.1bn or nearly $6bn had been pledged for this year alone with a further £3.4bn or almost $5bn to be handed over by 2020.

Britain announced £1.2 billion (1.6 million euros, $1.74 billion) and the United States $890 million.

Leaders and diplomats from 70 countries met London Thursday to pledge billions to help millions of Syrians displaced by war – and try to slow the chaotic exodus of refugees to Europe.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, who is co-hosting the conference, said a “new approach” was needed to address “one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time”.

At a press conference after the event, the chancellor told reporters that the European Union would work to improve trade relations with those countries, as well as others accepting refugees from the Middle East.

World leaders are gathering for a donor conference in London today in an attempt to raise £6.2bn for those affected by the war in Syria.

“It is clear that the countries surrounding Syria are now overwhelmed by refugees for instance Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey”. Ban endorsed the decision by the United Nations mediator, Staffan de Mistura, to suspend the Geneva talks Wednesday, only two days after they formally started.

“In supporting our refugee response you will not only be addressing the urgent needs of millions, you will be helping my country continue to do the right thing – fulfilling a critical role in our region and staying strong for the world”. The U.S. has since provided $4.5 billion since the crisis began in 2011.

Donor countries also want to see the refugees employed on infrastructure projects – which would also benefit the host nations – or in special business zones where Syrians and local people can work side by side.

“The coming days should be used to get back to the table, not to secure more gains on the battlefield”, he said.