Humanitarian organisations which took part in the Consultative Meeting of Humanitarian Organizations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Syria's neighbouring countries held in Doha yesterday pledged about $262m for humanitarian projects to be implemented in Syria over the next two years.
The final Communique issued at the end of the meeting stated that 40 participants representing 25 humanitarian organisations from countries in the region have attended the meeting held at the invitation of Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Muraikhi, the United Nations Secretary-General's Humanitarian Envoy, in coordination with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN Refugee Agency.
The meeting came in preparation for the upcoming "Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region" due on 4-5 April.
Participants agreed that the Brussels Conference will be held at a critical phase of the Syrian crisis, in light of serious developments marked by accelerated military operations and new events on the ground.
The Communique condemned the extensive destruction of assets and property on which the population relies for survival as an example of flagrant violation of humanitarian norms and international humanitarian law.
The communique expressed concern over the difficult choices that victims of the crisis have to endure, including fleeing to neighboring countries or seeking asylum in other countries, which have contributed to fundamental changes in the population structure compared with the situation before the crisis.
The Communique warned of grave humanitarian consequences of these demographic changes not only on the near and intermediate terms but also at the long term if they are enshrined a de facto situation.
The Communique praised the humanitarian efforts carried out by humanitarian organizations from the Arab region, especially from the Gulf region and the Syrian neighboring countries.
It highly appreciated the role being played by Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Muraikhi, the UN agencies and partners in the Syrian arena.
Participants recommended a comprehensive review of the humanitarian response efforts in Syria in order to draw the most important lessons from the Syrian refugee crisis seen as the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II.
They urged an immediate response to the medium and long-term future needs based on principles of aid effectiveness and effective use of resources.
They also called to adopt a shared vision which gives priority to enhancing capabilities of the Syrian people to face this humanitarian crisis and support humanitarian initiatives aimed at promoting self-sufficiency of the Syrian society.
They expressed concern over the systematic demographic change in some areas "predicting a long-term humanitarian disaster" and calling for a halt to systematic displacement of Syrian people and support of refugees and displaced persons to return when displacement ends.
The Communique also called upon all parties, especially the government, to exert more efforts to prevent the politicization of humanitarian action in Syria, facilitate access to beneficiaries in safe conditions and remove all obstacles to financial transfers.
