Donors at a European Union (EU) led conference on Monday (March 17) pledged 5.8 billion euros (S$8.4 billion) to help Syria's new authorities as they struggle with humanitarian and security problems after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

BRUSSELS - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday reaffirmed the European Union's (EU) commitment to supporting Syria's recovery and political transition. Delivering a speech at the 9th Brussels Conference on Syria, von der Leyen emphasized that the path to reconciliation and recovery remains long.

The EU led the way on pledging aid for Syria on Monday at a donor drive in Brussels -- but the call for funding to help the war-torn country after Bashar al-Assad's ouster risked falling short of last year as US support dries up.