Thanks for that.
I really want to start with “humanitarian plus development”, because the material needs of Syria's population are just so massive. I mentioned earlier that there are 15 million people in need, according to UN estimates. That's the overwhelming majority of the country. That's almost everyone who lives there. Needs are immense.
Obviously, you're all familiar with the overall global constraining of international aid over the years, especially in light of changes by the Trump administration. When you add to that how thinly everyone will be stretched in light of the regional war, especially what's happening in neighbouring Lebanon.... Nearly 200,000 people have crossed from Lebanon to Syria during the current war. On top of that we all expect there will be a decline in gulf funding for the reasons I mentioned. Again, that was a big part of the bet in Damascus. You're simply left with massive needs that could stunt the entire recovery.
I think what we're all agreeing with here on the panel is that Syria needs engagement. Syria needs material support. Some of that support should be humanitarian and unconditional. People need to live.
Some of that support will be more development. Of course, Canada and other states will want to see certain things in response. How tangible or how conditional.... You will have political expectations for that support. I think that's understandable, but the scale needs to be massive in order for Syrians to be able to recover, for people to stay in their homes, to return to their homes and to build a new life for themselves.