The Federal Foreign Office commits to providing one billion dollars for Syria.
A group of eight European Union (EU) nations are hoping to ease restrictions on Syrian refugees' international protection. However, Germany opposes their plans. During a recent meeting in Brussels, the German Foreign Office made the largest financial commitment among EU members at a donor conference. The added funds, totaling 7.5 billion euros, will be used to alleviate the catastrophic effects of the Syrian civil war. Of this amount, 5 billion euros will be given as grants, while the remaining 2.5 billion euros will be provided as loans, said EU Commissioner Janez Lenarcic in a speech at the event. Notably, a significant portion of these funds was pledged by Germany. Green Party representative Tobias Lindner, State Minister at the Foreign Office, announced a commitment of 1.053 billion euros to help both Syrian people and those in nearby countries.
The Syrian civil war started with protests against President Bashar al-Assad's government in spring 2011. The government responded violently, throwing the country into disarray and misery. Although a political solution to the conflict is yet to be found after several years, estimates suggest that 12.9 million people within the country will face hunger this year. Furthermore, one-third of schoolchildren go without breakfast, and eight out of nine schoolchildren cannot meet their minimum calorie requirements.
Forced returns to Syria are a decisive point of contention. Lindner, speaking at the conference, reiterated that from a German perspective, refugees should not be forcibly brought back to regions controlled by the Syrian government. "It's crucial we understand: Refugees are not to be returned to Syria forcibly, not to areas controlled by the Syrian authorities because of the unacceptable circumstances there," he emphasized.
Recently, these eight EU nations have been pushing for a reevaluation of the Syrian situation. They acknowledge that international protection was necessary for the Syrian population following the start of the war in 2011. Yet, they argue that the situation in Syria has changed considerably over the past 13 years, even though there is no avowed political stability in the country. Cyprus, specifically, has demanded that certain areas in Syria be deemed safe and secure.
Read also:
- Year of climate records: extreme is the new normal
- Precautionary arrests show Islamist terror threat
- UN vote urges Israel to ceasefire
- SPD rules out budget resolution before the end of the year
- Despite Germany's opposition, a group of EU nations are advocating for a relaxation of asylum policies for Syrian refugees, citing improved conditions as a result of the civil war's passage of time.
- The Federal Foreign Office, led by Green Party representative Tobias Lindner, has pledged 1.053 billion euros in humanitarian aid for Syria, emphasizing that refugees should not be forcibly returned to areas under Syrian government control due to the unacceptable circumstances there.
- Amidst calls for a reassessment of the Syrian asylum policy in certain EU nations, Syrian asylum seekers continue to seek protection outside their war-torn homeland, with the German commitment of one billion dollars being a significant part of international aid efforts.
Source: www.ntv.de
