KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• After nearly 17 months of conflict, which began with non-violent demonstrations against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011, the U.N. estimates that approximately 2 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance, approximately 1 million people are internally displaced, and more than 140,000 people have fled to the neighboring countries of Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, and Iraq.
• Fighting between Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG) forces and armed opposition groups escalated and spread to other areas of the country, including Syria’s capital, Damascus, and largest city, Aleppo, following a July 18, 2012, suicide bombing in Damascus that killed and wounded key members of the SARG security apparatus. The escalated fighting has displaced a significant number of people, including those previously displaced to Damascus and Aleppo from elsewhere in Syria, according to the U.N. Insecurity near areas of displacement and along transport routes is hampering relief efforts.
• With assistance from relief organizations, the governments of Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq are preparing for anticipated additional influxes from Syria and continuing support for current displaced populations. In Lebanon, where numerous displaced people are residing with host families or in collective shelters, the government is expanding a public hospital in Tripoli to accommodate increasing numbers of wounded and ill Syrians.
• On August 11, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the U.S. Government (USG) is providing an additional nearly $5.5 million in humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected people in Syria and neighboring countries, bringing the total USG humanitarian assistance for these populations to nearly $82 million.