Helping Syrians will require a global response

The recent telethon in the UAE has raised millions for Syria's refugees. But the scale of the tragedy requires help from the world

Amid far too many examples of the bad aspects of humanity, one of the reassuring signals of the inherent good in people is to see those living in peace and prosperity remaining cognisant of – and seeking to assist – those who do not enjoy those same advantages. It would be difficult to imagine a better example of this dynamic than the three-day telethon run by Abu Dhabi TV, as part of the Emirates Red Crescent broader appeal, that raised more than Dh120 million for those displaced by Syria’s civil war.

The distinction between the misery being experienced by millions of Syrian refugees in snowbound camps and the comforts of life in the UAE could scarcely be greater. But at a time when many in the Emirates are finalising plans on how to usher in the new year with friends and family, thousands of people made time to assist those who do not know when they will be able to return to their own homes, if at all, or even if those homes are still standing.

But while the telethon was a success, the true scale of the Syrian tragedy is far greater. It is also demonstrated by the fact that Dh120 million represents only a tiny fraction of the sum needed to alleviate the worst of the suffering. A few days before the telethon, the United Nations said it needed to raise $6.5 billion (Dh24 bn) to help 16 million people in Syria and in neighbouring countries – and it expects to need as much again to help a total of 52 million people in need worldwide. The $12.9bn appeal is the UN’s biggest ever fund-raising request, and the Syrian component is the biggest ever for a single conflict. And that neatly puts into context the scale of both the tragedy in Syria and the response that will be needed to address it.

Alleviating suffering on such a scale goes beyond the capacity of philanthropy by individual donors and can only be met through substantial donations at national levels. The UAE does more than its share at both government and individual levels but Syria also requires the participation of the world’s biggest economies.

In this, recent history does not portend well. A year ago, the UN announced a far more modest fund-raising target for Syria but only received 62 per cent of what it sought. The sum this year is much higher, and the international community must step up. If the international community was not willing to solve this conflict by military intervention, it must at least ameliorate the effect of the conflict by aid.