CNN News. World leaders seek $1.5 billion for afflicted Syrians, but concerns loom

More than 60,000 people dead. Millions forced to flee their homes. And thousands of refugees spilling out of the country every week.The humanitarian nightmare in and around Syria is spiraling out of control. But some say funding for those affected is woeful at best.

The United Nations and world leaders tried Wednesday to tackle the issue at a fund-raising event in Kuwait. The pledging conference was to address shortfalls in a $1.5 billion goal to help Syrian refugees and those affected inside the country, the U.N. humanitarian affairs office said.

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah kicked off the conference Wednesday by announcing a $300 million donation. Other pledges followed, including Germany with $10 million, the United Arab Emirates with $300 million and Bahrain with $20 million. On Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama announced an additional $155 million in aid for Syrians inside the country and the more than half-million refugees who have fled. The new funding brings the total U.S. pledge to $365 million.

The United States has imposed sanctions against the Syrian government and backed the opposition. But the United States and other nations have refrained from intervening militarily in the civil war.

World leaders seek $1.5 billion for afflicted Syrians, but concerns loom.

NATO foreign ministers decided in December to deploy the batteries after Syria launched Scud missiles near the Turkish border. In October, errant Syrian artillery shells hit the Turkish border town of Akcakale.

The first of six Patriot missile batteries intended to protect Turkey from Syrian threats is operational along the countries' shared border, NATO said Saturday.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said this month that the missile batteries will stay only as long as there is a threat. The Syrian crisis started nearly two years ago, when President Bashar al-Assad's forces cracked down on civilians peacefully protesting government policies. The violence led to an armed uprising and escalated into a civil war, with al-Assad trying to defend four decades of family rule against rebels demanding his ouster.