US special representative for Syria engagement Ambassador James Jeffrey announced on Tuesday that his country would be providing an additional $696 million in humanitarian assistance for Syrians, bringing its total contribution since the start of the war in 2011 to more than $11.3 billion.
At a virtual press conference during the fourth Brussels Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region,” Jeffrey spoke about the need to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2504 that is necessary to meet humanitarian needs at a time of a global pandemic.
The US diplomat reaffirmed that participants at the Brussels conference stressed the need to reach a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis pursuant to Resolution 2453.
“Together the international community must stand firm, that there will be no diplomatic nor economic normalization of the Assad regime until there is a political solution to the conflict,” he said.
Answering a question by Asharq Al-Awsat, Jeffrey said that the military conflict in Syria should stop.
He said the first focus should be on stopping military operations and then launching a political process that would allow Syrians to return to Syria from Turkey, Lebanon or other countries.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that his country is the largest single donor of humanitarian assistance, demonstrating the US core values rooted in generosity and reducing human suffering.
“In response to the ongoing crisis caused by the Assad regime, Russian, and Iranian forces, the US is announcing over $696 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the Syrian people. Our National Security Strategy prioritizes this critical support for displaced people,” Pompeo said.
He called on the international community, both traditional and new donors, to remain committed to meeting the growing needs of the Syrian people, a responsibility the Assad regime has proven unwilling to uphold.
