U.S. ramps up aid to Syria to tune of $1.2 billion

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State John F. Kerry announced today that the United States is providing nearly $378 million in additional U.S. aid to help those affected by the war in Syria. With this funding, total U.S. humanitarian assistance since the start of the crisis will reach more than $2.4 billion; with $1.2 billion helping over 4.7 million people inside Syria, and $1.2 billion helping nearly 3 million refugees and host communities in the neighboring countries affected by the crisis.

The United States remains the single-largest donor of humanitarian aid for those affected by this crisis. For the refugees from Syria in the region, and the host communities straining to support them, this additional assistance provides food, shelter, medical supplies, and other life-saving assistance. Throughout the region, U.S. funding has helped contain the spread of polio with a vaccination campaign that has reached 25 million children; provided tens of thousands of children schooling and educational materials; and supported specialized care for nearly 20,000 women who are recovering from the effects of sexual and gender-based violence.

The United States has been a leading supporter of efforts to deliver aid across borders in order to reach some of the hardest hit areas. The U.S. re-iterated today that it is committed to ensuring that its aid reaches those in some of the hardest hit areas. Nearly $36 million of the aid announced today will be provided through non-governmental organizations that are quietly and heroically working to deliver aid to those with the greatest needs inside Syria. Since 2102, the United States has provided more than $401 million in cross-border assistance to help the children, women, and men residing in areas outside of the regime’s control. This life-saving cross-border operation is just one part of the United States’ overall contribution to help people inside Syria.

In addition to existing cross-border aid programs, today’s announcement helps support the UN as it works toward full implementation of UN Resolution 2165. This resolution authorizes UN and other humanitarian organizations to bring life-saving assistance through four border crossings into Syria without the Asad regime’s consent.

Syria’s crisis grows increasingly dire every day. More than 10.8 million people in Syria now need aid, including 6.4 million internally displaced persons. Of those, almost 5 million live in hard to reach areas, and more than 241,000 of them are trapped in besieged areas. Violence has killed an estimated 170,000 people and produced a refugee crisis throughout the entire region.

U.S. Humanitarian Assistance for the Syria Crisis, By Country

*Figures are rounded