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World leaders promise billions in Syrian refugee aid

World leaders have pledged billions of pounds in aid for refugees affected by the Syrian civil war at a conference in London.

David Cameron has promised to double UK aid to support refugees fleeing Syria. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US Secretary of State John Kerry have also pledged more money.

The United Nations is asking for around £5.5 billion this year to cope with the humanitarian disaster caused by the Syrian civil war.

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Turkey PM: 'Starvation siege is being inflicted on Syria'

Residents look for survivors after what activists said was a barrel bomb dropped by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Aleppo. Credit: Reuters

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that those helping to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are committing war crimes and "inflicting a starvation siege" on civilians.

He said that the Syrian army, backed by foreign forces and Russian air strikes, intend to inflict a starvation siege on Aleppo.

The root cause of this problem is the war crimes committed by the Syrian regime, and the war crimes committed by Daesh, by ISIS.

Those who are helping the Assad regime are committing the same war crimes. I am especially telling this today because Aleppo is under heavy attack by Russian airplanes.

– Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu

But the Prime Minister insisted that whatever the cost, Turkey's door will be open to all Syrians fleeing the conflict.

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