President Barack Obama just announced at the G8 Summit more than $300 million in additional USG humanitarian assistance for the Syria response, bringing total USG funding for the Syria crisis to more than $814 million. The new funding will support U.N. agencies and NGOs to provide urgently needed assistance to reach 3.2 million people in Syria, as well as Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, and Egypt. Take a look at the amazing USAID complex emergency map http://1.usa.gov/14gsciD
U.S. Highlights Countries of Particular Concern on Human Rights
The United States remains deeply concerned about deplorable human rights situations, especially in Syria, Iran, the DPRK, and Sudan.We deplore these countries’ targeted attacks against civilians—including, in the case of Syria, the regime’s use of advanced weaponry against civilians. Also of concern are their restrictions on religious freedom, freedoms of expression and assembly, and persecution of human rights lawyers and activists and their families. We call on all countries to not forcibly return those seeking to escape human rights violations in DPRK. We also highlight these countries of concern:
- China
- Cuba
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- The Middle East
- Uzbekistan
- Turkmenistan
- Sri Lanka
“There can be no lasting peace in Syria without justice for the horrific crimes committed in Qusayr and elsewhere. There is no place in a future Syria for Assad or members of his regime who have ordered or committed atrocities. As the international community works to support a political settlement, based on the principles outlined in the Geneva Communiqué, we also must also support the groundwork for accountability.
The Assad regime and its supporters who commit crimes against the Syrian people should know that the world is watching, and they will be held accountable.” U.S. Statement at UN Rights Council Urgent Debate on Syria
"Adopting this resolution will send a clear message that the political solution we all seek is the best way to end the suffering of the people of Syria. We support this resolution, have co-sponsored it, and urge member states to vote in favor of it."
U.S. Provides Wheat To Fill Urgent Food Gaps in Syria
“As part of our nearly $510 million in humanitarian aid to help those affected by the crisis in Syria, wheat recently provided by the United States will feed more than one million people in Syria for four months.
The 25,000 metric tons of wheat donated to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) will be milled into flour and distributed to vulnerable families across Syria’s 14 Governorates through WFP as part of a monthly food ration. In addition to the 25 kilogram bag of flour that is being provided in these monthly food kits, families receive vegetable oil, pasta, bulgur, canned pulses and sugar.” Read More
"Sexual violence in our international community is not just a health concern, not just a social issue, and not just a criminal justice issue. It is an attack against human dignity that undermines transitioning states. As the driving force for self-preservation, human dignity is rooted in the right to live a life free from violence or the threat of violence. Syrians and Libyans have the opportunity to re-build their nations—and they must—but this starts by protecting each of their citizens—men, women, boys, and girls—from fear and from harm."
![The United States is pleased to announce an initial contribution of over $171 million toward the 2013 operations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This year’s initial contribution funded through the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, will support UNHCR efforts worldwide. This funding includes support for refugees returning to countries such as Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo; local integration and resettlement; and protection and life-saving assistance. U.S. funding supports the provision of water, shelter, food, healthcare, and education to refugees, internally displaced persons, and other persons under UNHCR’s care and protection in countries such as Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Georgia, Colombia, South Sudan, and Kenya. Full Text
[UN Photo]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/e3743a778eb9f181e74e44589a9ba982/tumblr_mi3ytlwtGM1r391tko1_250.jpg)
The United States is pleased to announce an initial contribution of over $171 million toward the 2013 operations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This year’s initial contribution funded through the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, will support UNHCR efforts worldwide. This funding includes support for refugees returning to countries such as Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo; local integration and resettlement; and protection and life-saving assistance. U.S. funding supports the provision of water, shelter, food, healthcare, and education to refugees, internally displaced persons, and other persons under UNHCR’s care and protection in countries such as Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Georgia, Colombia, South Sudan, and Kenya. Full Text
[UN Photo]
![‘The Human Rights Council has actually been one of the most active and vocal international bodies condemning the atrocities in Syria.’
-Paula Schriefer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of International Organization Affairs [Watch Video]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/b2e35610787745b12a284dee208831b7/tumblr_mhk642T2gl1r391tko1_250.jpg)
‘The Human Rights Council has actually been one of the most active and vocal international bodies condemning the atrocities in Syria.’
-Paula Schriefer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of International Organization Affairs [Watch Video]
“Why it Matters that Ireland is on the UN Human Rights Council:
A Preview of Upcoming Issues”
Paula Schriefer, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of State speaks to a group at Belvedere House, St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin.
See DAS Schriefer’s bio: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/190784
The United States is providing an additional $10 million in humanitarian assistance in response to urgent needs resulting from the brutal conflict in Syria. This new funding will supply enough flour to bakeries in Aleppo to provide daily bread for approximately 210,000 people in need for the next five months. With this new assistance, the United States is providing $220 million to date to help those suffering inside Syria and refugees in the neighboring countries.
The United States remains committed to supporting humanitarian assistance for all Syrians in need throughout the country’s 14 governorates, and to working with a wide range of international partners and Syrian humanitarian organizations, whose dedicated staff are taking great risks to ensure aid is directly reaching those in need.
About the Author: Luke Forgerson serves as DipNote’s Managing Editor.
Our “Photo of the Week” comes to us from Laurens Vermeire, a public affairs colleague accompanying a State Department and USAID delegation to Turkey and Jordan. The delegation includes U.S. Ambassador to Syria…
![USAID Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance Nancy Lindborg interacts with Syrian refugees at Islahiye Refugee Camp in Turkey on January 24, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0125_lindborg_turkey_syria_m.jpg)
"the terrorist attacks in the desert of Algeria, the threat posed by Iran and its nuclear program, the internal challenges with which Arab societies today are grappling to make their governments more democratic and more responsive to the needs of their people, all make the Middle East a region that must command our enduring attention and active engagement…"
