London conference closes with €9 billion in pledges for Syria and region

UK Prime minister David Cameron said the London conference for supporting Syria and the region raised more than $10 billion (€9 billion) - the largest amount of money ever raised in one day in response to a humanitarian crisis.

The Supporting Syria and the Region conference gathered more than 60 countries, including 30 world leaders, Euractive.com reported.

Britain, Germany and Norway hosted the conference in London, along with the United Nations and Kuwait.

Cameron said the conference received pledges approaching $6bn for 2016 alone, and a further $5bn over the longer term to 2020. “It means millions of people will now receive life-saving food medical care and shelter in Syria and beyond,” said the prime minister, The Guardian said.

The UK pledged an extra $1.7bn until 2020, Germany committed to $2.6bn until 2018, France said it would give $1bn and the US pledged an extra $925m for 2016.

Australia, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Japan, the UAE, Austria, Switzerland, Estonia, Denmark and Finland also committed funds.

European Council President Donald Tusk said the EU would commit €3bn this year and intended to "maintain this level of financing" for 2017 and beyond.