A Syrian refugee uses a toy shovel to remove snow from outside her tent at Bab al-Salam refugee camp in Syria near the Turkish border January 10, 2013.
President Obama announced an additional $155 million in aid for the people of Syria.
For nearly two years, the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has waged a brutal war against the Syrian people, murdering innocent men, women and children, in their homes, in bread lines, and at universities.
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More Aid For Syria
“In the face of this barbarism,” said President Barack Obama, “the United States has joined with nations around the world. . .to isolate Assad and his regime; impose sanctions that starve the regime of funds; recognize the Syrian Opposition Coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people; call for accountability for perpetrators of atrocities; and provide humanitarian relief to Syrians in need.”
In an effort to mitigate the severe humanitarian crisis that Assad’s war has created, President Obama announced an additional $155 million in aid for the people of Syria affected by the crisis, both inside Syria as well as refugees fleeing the violence.
President Obama explained how this additional assistance will help the Syrian people:
“This new aid will mean more warm clothing for children and medicine for the elderly; flour and wheat for your families and blankets, boots and stoves for those huddled in damaged buildings. It will mean health care for victims of sexual violence and field hospitals for the wounded. Even as we work to end the violence against you, this aid will help address some of the immediate needs you face each day.”
This new commitment brings America’s total humanitarian aid to the Syrian people to $365 million – making the U.S. the largest single donor of humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people. The U.S. is also calling on the international community to do more to help the Syrian people, and to contribute to the latest United Nations humanitarian appeal.
“The days ahead,” said President Obama, “will continue to be very difficult. But what’s clear is that the regime continues to weaken and lose control of territory. The opposition continues to grow stronger. More Syrians are standing up for their dignity. The Assad regime will come to an end. The Syrian people will have their chance to forge their own future. And they will continue to find a partner in the United States of America.”
