Facts on U.S. Humanitarian Aid for Syrian Crisis
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesperson
January 15, 2014
FACT SHEET
U.S. Humanitarian Assistance in Response to the Syrian Crisis
Secretary of State John F. Kerry announced today the United States will provide $380 million in additional U.S. humanitarian assistance to help those affected by the war in Syria. With this additional funding, the United States’ humanitarian assistance since the crisis began is more than $1.7 billion to help those suffering inside Syria, as well as refugees and host communities in the neighboring countries.
On December 16, 2013, the United Nations released the largest combined humanitarian appeal in its history, calling for $6.5 billion through the end of 2014 to provide food, water, medical care, and shelter to those affected by the crisis in Syria and refugees and host communities in the region. With today’s announcement, the United States continues its enduring commitment to provide urgent help for the children, women and men affected by Syria’s humanitarian crisis.
Though nearly all of Syria’s population is affected by the conflict, Syria’s youth are paying the heaviest toll. To keep children healthy, this U.S. government funding ensures vaccination campaigns for measles, rubella, and polio continue for millions of children in the region. The UN estimates that at least 3 million children have dropped out of school since the onset of the crisis, with approximately 2.2 million children out of school inside Syria. This funding supports programs to enhance Syrian children’s access to schools and safe learning spaces, as well as counseling for Syrian youth, the majority of whom have witnessed violence firsthand.
Today’s announcement will support the activities of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Program (WFP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and international and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) within Syria and for the regional refugee response in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, and Egypt.
INSIDE SYRIA: More than $177 million
This new assistance inside Syria will support life-saving emergency medical care, funding for shelter and critical water, sanitation and hygiene projects to help those affected by the crisis. It will also provide much-needed counseling and protection programs to help the most vulnerable, including women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
Of special concern are Syria’s children who have been traumatized by war and many of whom have been out of school for more than two years. The new funding will support children’s needs in education, nutrition, health, and psychosocial care, while also providing additional safe and nurturing spaces for Syria’s children to learn, play, and deal with the stresses of conflict.
There are now 9.3 million people in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, and as the Middle East faces one of the worst winters in decades, this new assistance will also increase distributions of relief items with a special focus on winter supplies such as warm clothing, thermal blankets, and fuel for heating and cooking. U.S. humanitarian assistance reaches 4.2 million people across all of Syria’s 14 governorates.
LEBANON: More than $76 million
Full report here:
http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2014/01/20140115290965.html#axzz2qj0lOGZN
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