U.S. President Barack Obama will tell G8 leaders Monday that Washington is offering a new $300 million aid package for refugees inside and outside Syria, a senior official said.
The new donation will bring the total of US humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees over $800 million and will include food, water and materials for shelter, deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters.
Obama’s fresh aid pledge comes days after the White House made clear it was upping military support for Syrian rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, including small arms and ammunition.
Previously, Washington had confined its support for Syria to non-lethal aid and humanitarian assistance.
Some 1.6 million Syrians have fled since the Syria conflict began in 2011, mostly to neighboring nations. Another 4.25 million have been displaced within the country itself, according to the United Nations.
Obama was due to announce the new U.S. aid at a dinner of G8 leaders at the Lough Erne golf resort in Northern Ireland.
-
Putin, Obama disagree over Syria at tense G8 summit meeting
U.S. President Barack Obama sparred with Russia’s Vladimir Putin over how to end the war in Syria on Monday during an icy encounter at a G8 ... Middle East -
Obama and Putin set to spar over Syria arms at G8
U.S. President Barack Obama will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday as both sides offer support to rival forces in the Syrian civil ... Middle East -
How Obama crossed his own line on Syria after months of debate
President Obama’s decision to arm Syrian rebels for the first time follows an intense, nearly two-year debate within the White House in which ... World News