American diplomacy announced Thursday, September 15, new funding of $756 million in humanitarian aid for Syria, where
"the needs of the displaced remain urgent"
after more than ten years of war.
Such funding, which comes on top of another $808 million announced earlier in the year, aims to
“continue our unwavering commitment to the Syrian people
,” the secretary of state said. American Antony Blinken in a statement.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield made the announcement Thursday during a Security Council meeting dedicated to Syria.
Anthony 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, according to the press release.
In mid-July, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution extending this cross-border aid mechanism by six months, a period that Westerners wanted to extend to one year, but Russia had agreed to only half of it, until next January 10.
15.7 billion dollars of American humanitarian aid since the beginning of the war
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 of this help to survive
,” added Anthony 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 in humanitarian aid for Syria since the war began eleven years ago.
"The United States remains the world's largest donor of humanitarian aid to Syria,"
the statement added.
