The London conference was already the fourth donor conference to help Syria, but the first held in the UK. This year the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, together with Germany, Kuwait, Norway and the United Nations undertook to organise this event. A total of 70 leaders participated, among them were British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon.
Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka pledged that the Czech Republic would provide help to Syria and neighboring countries in 2016 with at least 6 mil. Euros (170 million CZK). During the year, according to the development of the Czech Republic, this amount could still increase. The Czech Republic will continue to subsidise areas which it already supports by its long term various programmes, such as health care and education. The Czech Republic is also involved in new projects (eg. helping states which to the greatest extent are already providing a haven for refugees - Jordan and Turkey). Last year, the Czech Republic provided, in connection with the conflict in Syria, aid in the total amount of 190 million CZK.
The aim of the conference was to obtain from participating countries financial contributions totaling $ 9 billion in 2016 which the UN estimated as the necessary assistance that the international community should provide to mainly refugees within Syria and neighboring countries. The financial assistance was ensured up to 2020, plus the promotion of education and better employment opportunities for Syrian refugees in the countries of the region, which should have resulted in a decrease of interest in migration to Europe via risky paths.
The EU should contribute € 3 billion, the US $ 900 million and Germany 1.2 billion Euros. David Cameron pledged for the British government 510 million pounds and Norway signaled $ 1.2 billion (over four years).
The short prime ministers' visit also included other working meetings.
Source: Embassy of the Czech Republic