Western, Arab states pledge $2.4 bln in Syria aid

KUWAIT,  (Reuters) – Western and Gulf Arab nations pledged more than $2.4 billion yesterday for U.N. aid efforts in Syria, where a near three-year civil war has left millions of people hungry, ailing or displaced.

The pledge arose from a U.N. appeal for $6.5 billion in 2014, which was launched last month and is the largest in the organisation’s history.

The world body estimates the conflict has reversed development gains in Syria by 35 years,