The ninth edition of the EU's yearly conference in support of Syria kicks off in Brussels on Monday. Ahead of this year's conference in support of Syria in Brussels, Kaja Kallas, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy,

The interim government in Damascus will take part on Monday in an annual international conference to gather aid pledges for Syria, facing dire humanitarian problems and an uncertain political transition after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Germany on Monday kicked off a new pledging round of aid for Syria, as the EU hosts a donor drive for the war-torn country after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. The EU has held its annual donor drive for Syria for the past eight years -- but it mainly focused on supporting refugees in neighbouring countries and avoided any contacts with the Assad regime.