It is vital the UK maintains its legacy of support to Syria

Donors meet in Brussels today to pledge financial contributions to the humanitarian response in Syria – its civilians are worse off in 2021 than at any other point during the war, writes David Miliband

Cutting funding by more than half saves us little, but would be devastating for the 210,000 Syrians who rely on UK aid for food every month (AFP/Getty)

The tenth anniversary of the conflict in Syria, marked this month, illustrates what happens when warring parties are allowed to act with impunity. A recent survey by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) found that a staggering 78 per cent of health workers surveyed in northwest Syria had witnessed at least one attack on a health facility.

Violations of international law – including attacks on health services, and the denial of humanitarian access – are now a staple not only of this conflict, but those in Yemen, Libya and beyond. For the future of all Syrians, for the stability of neighbouring states and the implications for future conflicts, the war in Syria and its conduct and consequences should matter to us all.

Civilians in Syria are worse off in 2021 than at any other point during the war. Some 13.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance – an increase of 2 million in just the last year. What’s more, 12.4 million don’t have enough to eat. The conflict has forced half of all Syrians from their homes. They told us their experiences of being forced to flee the fighting twice, five, and even twenty times.

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With needs so high, Syrians require international help. Minister of state James Cleverly has identified Syria as an exemplar of “the importance of our aid and diplomacy working together”. Alignment of aid and diplomacy is now a guiding principle of the UK government’s international strategy as outlined in the long awaited Integrated Review, and therefore to commitments made by Cleverly to “stand shoulder to shoulder with [Syrians] in their time of need”.

When donors meet in Brussels today to pledge financial contributions to the humanitarian response in Syria, it is vital the UK maintains its legacy of support. It has been the third largest donor to the crisis for the last five years. Yet leaked documents show funding may be cut by as much as 67 per cent. Earlier this month, the UK contribution to the Yemen response was halved.

Continuing last year’s level of support to Syria would cost 0.004 per cent of UK GDP. Cutting funding by more than half saves us little, but would be devastating for the 210,000 Syrians who rely on UK aid for food every month. The IRC is just one agency whose funding is at risk due to the cuts; ending our funding would mean the loss of support to 20 hospitals providing lifesaving care.

In camps in the northeast of Syria, around 7,000 women and girls would lose access to gender-based violence response and prevention services where the IRC is currently the only organisation providing these services.

Aid saves lives, but Syrians also need international diplomacy. In 2014, the UK was instrumental in establishing the UN Security Council resolution authorising cross-border aid into Syria. The mechanism remains a lifeline to 2.4 million people each month living outside government control, despite efforts by Russia and China to scale back cross-border access in previous rounds of negotiations.

Those opposed to cross-border access argue aid from Damascus is an alternative. In reality, that approach has not resulted in a single delivery of humanitarian aid into northwest Syria. The authorisation for the sole remaining border crossing expires this July; whether a coalition of support for reauthorisation can be established will be a test for the UK’s integrated approach to aid and diplomacy.

A political settlement remains critical to Syrians but, after 10 years and eight rounds of UN-led peace negotiations, it is nowhere in sight. The security council remains deadlocked. Turkey, Russia and Iran have seized the initiative through the Astana process, reinforcing the need for a return to a robust UN-led negotiations.

At the same time, in the northwest of Syria low-level conflict is ongoing and continues to inflict an awful toll on civilians. Isis remnants linger in the northeast. Both the conflict and the peace talks have fragmented – and are at risk of remaining that way, without a bold renewal of international efforts.

The coming weeks and months provide opportunities for the UK to demonstrate what integrated aid and diplomacy can achieve for Syria.

Firstly, the UK should protect Syria from the worst of the aid cuts. This is critical – not only for the Syrians who rely on UK aid, but for the ability of the UK to coalesce support for diplomatic progress.

Secondly, at the UN Security Council the UK should champion efforts to preserve and expand humanitarian access. The renewal of UNSCR 2533 in July is critical to maintaining the delivery of lifesaving aid, and ultimately the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines. An immediate reauthorisation of Bab al-Salam and Yarubiyah border crossing points, that closed following previous negotiations, are also needed.

Finally, the UK should work to reinvigorate the UN peace process in line with its aspirations for leadership in conflict resolution, as outlined in the Integrated Review. When liberal democracies committed to human rights are not at the forefront, then those who regard them as an inconvenience are given free rein. The UK should wholeheartedly support special envoy Geir Pedersen’s recent call for the creation of a new international mediation forum to bring an end to the conflict.

Syrians’ time of need is now. UK commitment – through continued aid and diplomatic efforts – would show what it really means to stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

Former foreign secretary David Miliband is president and chief executive officer of the International Rescue Committee