English: Dr Samah Bassas (right), CEO of the Syria Relief Network is greeted by Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel at the opening of the 'Inside Syria' pledging session.

The conference has raised over $10 billion in aid for the humanitarian crisis, as well as commitments to support 1.7 million children in education and deliver 1.1 million jobs.

BACKGROUND

The Supporting Syria and the Region conference is taking place in London, today on 4 February 2016.

It brings together world leaders in a bid to raise the money needed to help the millions of people whose lives have been torn apart by the devastating civil war in Syria.

Syria is the world's biggest humanitarian crisis. Billions of dollars in international aid are needed to support people caught up in the conflict.

The UK, Germany, Kuwait, Norway, and the United Nations are co-hosting the conference to raise significant new funding to meet the immediate and longer-term needs of those affected.

The conference is also setting ambitious goals on education and economic opportunities to transform the lives of refugees caught up in the Syrian crisis - and to support the countries hosting them.

This event alone cannot solve all these problems. Ultimately a political solution is necessary to bring the Syrian conflict to an end.

Find out more: www.supportingsyria2016.com

FREE-TO-USE PHOTO

This image is in the public domain and free-to-use, as long as you credit the source as: Adam Brown/Crown Copyright