Attachments
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
-
Escalating and spreading fighting between Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG) forces and opposition groups is affecting areas throughout Syria and disrupting humanitarian activities, including food distributions and humanitarian assessments. On December 3, the U.N. announced plans to temporarily relocate 25 of 100 international U.N. staff members from Syria to neighboring countries due to the insecurity.
-
On November 26 and 27, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah visited Turkey, where he met with senior Government of Turkey (GoT) officials, including the GoT Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, representatives of the Turkish Red Crescent Society, USAID humanitarian partners, and the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria and assistance for affected populations. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis J. Ricciardone, Jr., and Administrator Shah also visited Turkey’s border with Syria and met displaced Syrians.
-
On November 28 and 29, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (State/PRM) Anne C. Richard visited Jordan and Lebanon to meet with government, international, and non-governmental officials to discuss policy and program priorities regarding displaced populations. Richard also met with displaced Syrians in host communities to understand their challenges and discuss international support.
-
At the Friends of the Syrian People meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, on December 12, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns announced nearly $13.9 million in additional USG support for humanitarian activities in Syria. The funding includes approximately $10.4 million for an international non-governmental organization (NGO), $2 million for the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO), and $400,000 for the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) to provide health care and relief commodities during the coming winter months. The USG is also providing an additional $1 million to WFP to include Nutributter in monthly family food rations. In total, the USG has provided $210 million in FY 2012 and FY 2013 for humanitarian support in Syria and neighboring countries.