(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The United States on Thursday announced more than USD 360 million in additional life-saving assistance for those affected by the war in Syria.
This announcement was made by US National Security Advisor Susan Rice at a White House event marking World Refugee Day. This new funding brings the total US humanitarian assistance in response to this conflict to more than USD 1.1 billion in Fiscal Year 2015 and over USD 4 billion since the fighting began in 2011.
The funding supports the operations of the United Nations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as well as other international and non-governmental organizations. It will provide shelter, water, medical care, food, protection, and other necessities to millions of people suffering inside Syria and nearly four million refugees from Syria in the region. It also aids governments and communities throughout the region that are straining to cope with the mass influx of refugees from Syria.
The new funding will partially respond to the 2015 appeals of USD 8.4 billion
from the United Nations for Syria and the region. Unfortunately, even with the contribution the United Sates is announcing today, the UN appeal remains severely unfunded.
The suffering and the needs of the Syrian people continue to mount to levels once unthinkable. In 2015, humanitarian needs are only likely to grow. As the Assad regime continues to indiscriminately barrel bomb cities and attack civilian targets, including schools, mosques, and hospitals, violent extremist groups like ISIL and al-Nusrah Front also continue to brutalize Syrians every day.
The United States recognizes that, along with emergency relief, the international community must address the long-term development needs of Syria's neighbors-shoring up health care and education systems, and economies overwhelmed by the millions of Syrian refugees.
The United States has longstanding development assistance programs to help address these priorities, and part of our funding also supports projects that benefit refugee-hosting communities throughout the region.
The United States remains committed to assisting those affected by this terrible war and strongly urges all governments, organizations, and individuals concerned about the situation to support life-saving aid efforts of the UN and other partners. (end) yt.ibi
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