Syria conflict: Donor nations pledge $10bn in vital aid

Donor nations meeting in London have pledged more than $10bn to help Syrians affected by the five-year conflict, UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced. He said the money (£6.8bn) would provide millions in Syria with “life-saving” food, medical care and shelter. The gathering has been overshadowed by the suspension of peace talks in Geneva and […]

Donor nations meeting in London have pledged more than $10bn to help Syrians affected by the five-year conflict, UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced.
He said the money (£6.8bn) would provide millions in Syria with “life-saving” food, medical care and shelter.
The gathering has been overshadowed by the suspension of peace talks in Geneva and intense fighting on the ground. A Syrian government offensive, backed by Russian air strikes, is continuing north of Aleppo.
The conference opened Thursday in London with donor nations exceeding their goal of $9 billion.  Cameron said pledges had surpassed $10 billion by the end of the day. 
The neighbouring countries had also, he said, made a “courageous commitment” to open their economies to provide more jobs – helped by $40bn of loans and the opening of European markets that would create one million new jobs in the region.
Britain, along with Germany, Norway, Kuwait and the United Nations, are hosting the Syria Donors Conference, the fourth to be held.
The $10 billion figure is more than double the $4.5 pledged last year, reflecting the urgency the migrant crisis has caused among Western governments.