Escalating Violence and Decreasing Funding Imperial Call for Long-Term Aid to Syrian Refugees Intensifies
In the aftermath of the Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, over 150 NGOs have united to advocate for a more sustainable and inclusive approach to aid and recovery efforts in Syria. The collective recommendations, while not directly documented in a single consolidated statement, can be inferred from the activities and commentary of prominent regional NGOs.
At the heart of these recommendations is a focus on empowering local communities and strengthening local governance. The NGOs call for a shift from top-down, centralized aid models to approaches that empower local communities and local authorities. This includes supporting administrative reforms, empowering local administrations, and involving civil society in decision-making processes.
Another key area of emphasis is the need for sustainable, long-term solutions over short-term aid. The NGOs urge a redirection of funding from humanitarian relief to long-term, sustainable development initiatives that address the root causes of conflict and displacement. They also support programs that create jobs, rebuild infrastructure, and stimulate economic growth at the community level.
Ensuring safety, dignity, and voluntary conditions for refugee returns is another critical recommendation. The NGOs emphasize the importance of guaranteeing that any return of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) is safe, voluntary, and dignified, with robust protection mechanisms in place. They also highlight the need for comprehensive reintegration support to address legal, economic, and psychological barriers to reintegration, including the destruction of housing and infrastructure.
Transparency, accountability, and civil society engagement are also highlighted as essential components of the recovery process. The NGOs call for strengthened legal frameworks and regulatory reforms to ensure transparency, accountability, and the meaningful engagement of civil society organizations in Syria’s recovery process. They also advocate for empowering NGOs and community-based organizations to monitor aid distribution and recovery efforts, ensuring that resources reach those most in need.
Promoting inclusivity and unity is another key recommendation. The NGOs urge collaboration between European, regional, and Syrian stakeholders to ensure a united and inclusive approach to recovery, rather than piecemeal efforts. They also support initiatives that bridge governance divides, promote peacebuilding, and foster unity.
The summary table below provides a comprehensive overview of the key recommendations and actions:
| Recommendation Area | Key Actions | |------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Local Empowerment | Decentralize aid, strengthen local governance, involve civil society | | Sustainable Solutions | Prioritize long-term development, invest in local economy | | Refugee/IDP Returns | Ensure safety, dignity, voluntariness, and reintegration support | | Transparency & Accountability | Reform regulations, increase civil society monitoring, ensure transparency | | Inclusivity & Unity | Promote dialogue, support transitional leadership, foster international cooperation |
These recommendations reflect the consensus among experts and organizations involved in Syria’s recovery, emphasizing community empowerment, sustainability, and inclusivity as central to effective aid and rebuilding efforts. The international community is urged to prioritize longer-term, sustainable recovery for Syrians ahead of the Brussels IX Conference on Syria and the region.
- The NGOs advocate for a shift from traditional aid models to approaches that empower local communities and local authorities, contributing to humanitarian assistance and personal growth.
- Emphasizing the importance of long-term solutions, the NGOs urge a redirection of funding from humanitarian relief to sustainable development initiatives, enhancing education-and-self-development and career-development opportunities.
- Safety, dignity, and voluntary conditions for refugee returns are crucial, as highlighted by the NGOs, which emphasize the need for robust protection mechanisms and comprehensive reintegration support.
- Transparency, accountability, and civil society engagement are essential components of the recovery process, with the NGOs calling for strengthened legal frameworks and regulatory reforms to ensure transparency.
- Promoting inclusivity and unity among European, regional, and Syrian stakeholders is another key recommendation, as it fosters a united and inclusive approach to recovery.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, the NGOs advocate for empowering NGOs and community-based organizations to monitor aid distribution and recovery efforts, ensuring resources reach those most in need.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts and displacement in Syria have led to accidents such as car-accidents and fires, with the NGOs stressing the need for programs that focus on skills-training and rebuilding infrastructure to address these issues.
- Despite the focus on Syria's recovery, general-news and issues such as crime-and-justice and sports are still relevant, with the NGOs supporting initiatives that promote peace, unity, and sports-betting as forms of self-expression and community engagement.
