Germany is one of the main donors worldwide. Since the crisis erupted in 2012, the German government has provided some 4.5 billion euros. The one billion euros now pledged will go to provide food, schooling and accommodation for refugees.

According to the UN, a total of 13.1 billion people in Syria are now dependent on humanitarian aid. To this number must be added the roughly 5.5 million Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries, like Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. Another 6.1 million Syrians are classed as internally displaced persons.

Heiko Maas calls for international criminal investigations

In Syria, serious crimes have been committed. The German government is working to have them investigated and to ensure that those responsible are called to account. Germany will be cooperating more closely with international players including NGOs, the United Nations, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and human rights lawyers in this context.

Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas also pointed to the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, sometimes known as the "triple IM". Germany already provides political and financial support for this mechanism. This year it will again provide one million euros. Finally, Heiko Maas once again appealed to the international community, "Let us work together, because there can only be lasting peace if the perpetrators are held to account."

On 24 and 25 April the second Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region Conference was held in Brussels. The first Brussels conference was held in April 2017 under the aegis of the EU and the UN. In February 2016 a conference was held in London.