Germany pledges $326 million aid for Syria after Assad’s ouster
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock takes part in a meeting of top diplomats from the Middle East and Europe to discuss Syria, in Riyadh on January 12, 2025. (AFP Photo)
Germany announced on Monday a new €300 million ($326 million) aid package for Syria, as the European Union prepares for a donor conference to support the country after the recent removal of Bashar al-Assad from power.
“For this mammoth task, Germany will provide the United Nations and selected organizations with a further 300 million euros for this peaceful process and for the people in Syria and the people in the region,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in Brussels.
Majority of funds to directly benefit Syrians
More than half of the funds will directly benefit Syrians, according to Baerbock, and will be implemented without the involvement of the transitional government. The aid will focus on providing food, health services, emergency shelters, and protective measures for vulnerable populations.
The support extends beyond Syria’s borders, with portions allocated to Syrian refugees and host communities in neighboring countries including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Türkiye.
Baerbock emphasized the importance of an inclusive political process for Syria’s future stability. “As Europeans, we stand together for the people of Syria, for a free and peaceful Syria,” she said.
