PostedSeptember 15, 2022, 08:26
SyriaWashington provides $756 million for the displaced
US humanitarian aid supports 2.4 million people near Idlib and Aleppo. The new envelope will make it possible to give food and medicine to the poorest.
“Cross-border deliveries help ensure that life-saving aid, which includes food, medicine and other basic necessities, actually reaches people across northwestern Syria (here the Atme IDP camp, near Idleb, in April 2020) who depend on this aid to survive,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
AFP
American diplomacy announced on Thursday new funding of 756 million dollars (728 million francs) in humanitarian aid for Syria, where “the needs of the displaced remain urgent”, after more than ten years of war. Such funding, which is in addition to another package of 808 million dollars (779 million francs) announced earlier in the year, aims to “continue our unfailing commitment to the Syrian people”, has said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield made the announcement Thursday during a Security Council meeting dedicated to Syria. Antony Blinken stressed the importance of an international agreement allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid through the border with Turkey, “a vital link” for millions of people in Syria.
In mid-July, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution extending this cross-border aid mechanism by six months, a period that the West wanted to extend to one year, but Russia had agreed to only half of it, until next January 10.
No need for Damascus endorsement
In force since 2014, this system allows, without the approval of the Damascus regime, to come to the aid of more than 2.4 million people in sectors of the province of Idlib and the north of the neighboring province of Aleppo. , under the control of jihadist and rebel groups. “Cross-border deliveries help ensure that lifesaving aid, which includes food, medicine and other basic necessities, does indeed reach people across northwestern Syria who depend on this help to survive,” added Antony Blinken.
The province of Idleb, the last bastion of jihadists and rebels in war-torn Syria, is home to the majority of displaced people living in poverty.
In total, Washington says it has funded about 15.7 billion dollars (15.1 billion francs) in humanitarian aid for Syria since the start of the war eleven years ago. “The United States remains the world’s largest donor of humanitarian aid to Syria,” concludes the Secretary of State’s text.
(AFP)