Hadja Lahbib, the EU Commissioner for Crisis Preparedness and Management, has travelled to Damascus and met with Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of the HTS rebel group that ousted Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad in December.
She promised new humanitarian support to Syrians, both living inside Syria and in neighbouring countries.
The new funds totalled €235 million for 2025, of which €142.5 million was specifically allocated for projects within Syria.
Lahbib’s visit was the first by an EU Commissioner to the country since the fall of the Assad regime.
She said she had a “cordial and comprehensive” meeting with Syria’s new leader.
In Damascus, I had a cordial & comprehensive meeting with Syrian leader Al-Sharaa about the geopolitical situation in Syria & broader region.
Here to see the needs of the people & continue our support.
The EU is providing new humanitarian aid of EUR 235 million.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/0vCzpCxw41
— Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) January 17, 2025
She called for “full respect of International Humanitarian Law and unhindered access to the whole of Syria for humanitarian partners.”
As well as the new Syrian leaders, Lahbib also visited the Dewaila Community Centre run by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), which sheltered women, children, and vulnerable families.
Lahbib said almost 17 million people were in need of humanitarian aid in Syria.
Afterwards, she met with UN representatives to discuss Syria’s political developments and complex humanitarian situation.
Lahbib said the EU was “committed to opening a path to a safer and promising future for the Syrian people.”
“Let us remember that the dire humanitarian crisis affecting them has not vanished with the fall of the regime,” she said.
However, this could be an “invaluable opportunity to reset, recover and rebuild,” she argued.
The EU will “continue to support vulnerable Syrians in 2025 and beyond. With this new package, we will ensure humanitarian aid will continue to be provided to those who need it the most,” said Lahbib.
EXC: Europe must save Syria from any takeover by Turkey-backed Islamists, according to the man who has spent most of his life opposing the regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad, his first cousin @RibalAlAssad. https://t.co/v288fWtAdf
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) December 10, 2024
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), funded by the European Union, employs “more than 450 terrorists”, Israel says. https://t.co/1jrUpcqbBc
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) March 5, 2024
