DHAKA: Western and Gulf Arab nations pledged $1.4 billion on Wednesday for United Nations aid efforts in Syria, where an almost three-year-old civil war has left millions of people hungry, ailing or displaced.

The pledge arose from an appeal for $6.5 billion launched last month that is the largest in UN history.

The world body estimates that the conflict has reversed development gains in Syria by 35 years, with half its people now living in poverty.

But only 70 percent of $1.5 billion pledged at a similar meeting last year has reached UN coffers, hinting at donor fatigue with no end to the bloodshed on the horizon.

UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said all sides in the conflict had shown ‘total disregard for their responsibilities under international humanitarian and human rights law’.

She decried the increasing tactic of siege warfare while UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said polio had returned and he was ‘especially concerned’ about reports of starvation.

‘Children, women, men are trapped, hungry, ill, losing hope,’ Amos told an international donor conference in Kuwait intended to help the United Nations reach its $6.5 billion target for the crisis in 2014.

Kuwait’s ruling emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah, promised $500 million in fresh assistance, while the United States announced a contribution of $380 million.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia pledged $60 million each. The European Union pledged $225 million and Britain $165 million.

BDST: 2053 HRS, JAN 15, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor