World
leaders have opened a donor conference in London with an urgent plea for
billions of pounds in aid for refugees from war-torn Syria.
"There
is a critical shortfall in life-saving aid," said UK Prime Minister David
Cameron.
Germany
pledged €2.3bn (£1.7bn) and the UK £1.2bn in extra aid for refugees.
However,
the conference has been overshadowed by the suspension of peace talks in Geneva
on Wednesday, and intense fighting on the ground. A Syrian
government offensive, backed by Russian air strikes, is continuing north of
Aleppo.
Turkish
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said an estimated 70,000 Syrians fleeing the
bombing were moving towards Turkey.
The goal
of the donor conference is to raise £6.2bn ($9bn; €8.3bn) for Syrian refugees.
Mr Cameron
and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon both spoke of the need to get all Syrian
refugee children into education within months.
Sixty
countries are represented at the conference, including 30 world leaders.
It is the
fourth of its kind, focusing on education and jobs for the 4.6 million Syrian
refugees in neighbouring countries. Turkey is hosting 2.5 million - the largest
number.
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