Donor nations have pledged to give billions of dollars in aid to Syrians as world leaders gathered for a conference to tackle the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with Turkey reporting a new exodus of tens of thousands fleeing air strikes.

Donor nations have reaffirmed the Palestinian Authority’s readiness for statehood based on new reports from key international financial institutions and the United Nations.

Donor nations say they are ready to provide Burma with more than $100m (€63m) to help it recover from Cyclone Nargis, but are warning its ruling junta they will not fully open their wallets until they are given access to the hardest-hit areas.