Germany Increases Aid for Syria by 300 Million Euros, Prioritizing Minority Protection
Germany's Foreign Minister Baerbock Announces Extra 300 Million Euro of Aid for Syria
In light of the escalating violence and suspected massacres in western Syria, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has pledged an additional €300 million in aid for the region. During a meeting of EU foreign ministers, she stressed the importance of an inclusive political process in shaping Syria's future.
The new funds will be primarily allocated to the United Nations and select organizations designated to support the peaceful rebuilding process within Syria and surrounding host communities. According to the Foreign Ministry, the German aid package is structured as follows:
- Around 60% of the total allocation will directly benefit Syrian civilians.
- The remaining 40% will aid Syrian refugees and their host communities in countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey.
More Details:
- Federal Foreign Office Contribution: €168 million is allocated from the Federal Foreign Office, with €131 million to be channeled into humanitarian assistance and €36 million reserved for stabilization and peacebuilding initiatives.
- Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Contribution: A further €133 million will be contributed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, focusing on education, psychosocial support, and stabilizing basic services such as water and electricity.
In addition, the Foreign Minister demanded a full investigation into reported massacres within Syria and urged the Syrian leadership to ensure control over their security forces. The minister praised the recent agreement between the new Islamic leadership in Damascus and Kurdish fighters to integrate the Kurdish autonomous administration into the national government, marking an important step towards an inclusive political process.
Alawites, a religious minority and long-standing supporters of the Assad regime, remain apprehensive about potential reprisals given their communal identity and association with the Assad family.
These developments come as tensions escalate in the western part of Syria, with the heaviest fighting since December 2020 claimed by the Islamic HTS militia. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports over 1,383 civilians killed, with a majority hailing from the Alawite religious minority.
In a commitment to rebuilding peace and preserving Syria's diverse population, the EU has scheduled a donor conference to pool resources and strengthen international cooperation for the war-ravaged nation.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
[3]: Al Jazeera.com/News/2021/06/06/Power-struggle-escalates-amid-Kurdish-militia-advance-in-north-Syria
- German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, during a meeting of EU foreign ministers, emphasized the importance of an inclusive political process in Syria, including the protection of minorities, stating that the Community policy is prepared to provide additional funds to support this goal.
- The German aid package for Syria, part of which totals €300 million, is structured in such a way that around 60% of the funds will directly benefit Syrian civilians, while the remaining 40% will be allocated to aid Syrian refugees and their host communities in countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey.
- In a show of international cooperation, the EU has scheduled a donor conference to pool resources, with an aim to rebuild peace and preserve Syria's diverse population, ensuring fair employment policy for all communities, including the Alawite minority.
