Fact Sheet
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
March 14, 2019
Today at the at the Third Brussels Conference on “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region,” the United States announced more than $397 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Syria as part of the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan for 2019-2020. This brings U.S. humanitarian assistance in response to the Syria crisis to more than $9.5 billion since the start of the crisis and reflects the steadfast commitment of the United States to providing lifesaving support to the people of Syria impacted by conflict both inside Syria and throughout the region. The U.S. appreciates all donors who have stepped up and continues to encourage both traditional and new donors to help meet growing needs
With this new funding to UNHCR, UNICEF, IOM, non-governmental organizations, and other agencies, the United States is providing urgently-needed food, shelter, sanitation and hygiene, medical care, education, and other relief to help assist the nearly 12 million people suffering inside Syria, as well as the nearly 5.7 million refugees in the region. A portion of this funding also helps support the host communities in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, and Egypt that are generously hosting Syrian refugees.
The United States calls for immediate, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access for all people in need in Syria, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2449. The United States reaffirms its support for freedom of movement for all displaced people and safe, voluntary, and dignified returns of refugees and internally displaced persons in a process that is free from coercion.
U.S. Humanitarian Assistance for the Syria Crisis, By Country
INSIDE SYRIA: nearly $135 million
New total since the start of the crisis: Nearly $4.7 billion
The humanitarian needs inside Syria continue to outpace the international response. As the largest single donor to the humanitarian response, U.S. humanitarian assistance provides critical and lifesaving support to millions of displaced people or those unable to meet their basic needs in affected areas of Syria, including through operations across international borders. The additional U.S. contribution continues to support emergency food assistance, including monthly household food parcels, ready-to-eat rations, flour to bakeries, cash transfers for food, and food vouchers. The contribution also supports health care, shelter assistance, provision of safe drinking water, hygiene programs, and improved sanitation to those affected by the crisis. It also provides critical relief supplies and much-needed counseling and protection programs for the most highly vulnerable groups, including children, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
LEBANON: More than $97 million
New total since the start of the crisis: Nearly $2.1 billion
Today’s announcement provides additional support to both the more than one million refugees from Syria living in Lebanon and vulnerable Lebanese host communities. The additional U.S. funding supports protection services for refugees include assistance getting civil status documentation; basic needs cash assistance; health care— including life-saving hospital care, primary care, and vaccinations; shelter improvements to informal settlements and sub-standard shelters; and access to safe drinking water for Syrian refugees and Lebanese host communities. The funding also supports psychosocial support and assistance for survivors of gender-based violence.
JORDAN: More than $57 million
New total since the start of the crisis: More than $1.3 billion
U.S. funding continues to support the 120,000 refugees from Syria living in camps, as well as the more than 545,000 non-camp refugees with cash assistance to meet basic needs such as rent and health care. It supports efforts to enroll students in public school and improve learning achievements, psychosocial programs, and water and sanitation services that benefit refugees from Syria and Jordanians in host communities. In addition, U.S. funding supports refugee registration and information dissemination; access to work opportunities; and protection programs based in communities. U.S. funding includes providing lifesaving water and health care for the estimated 40,000 Syrians stranded at the Jordanian border.
TURKEY: Nearly $81 million
New total since the start of the crisis: Nearly $814 million
U.S. funding assists Turkey in addressing the humanitarian and protection needs of more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkish host communities and camps. Our funding includes basic assistance to refugees, support for psychosocial programs, and prevention and response to gender-based violence. U.S. assistance also provides essential commodities, builds additional schools, pays teachers’ stipends, and provides school supplies and school transportation for children. This funding supports health programming and accreditation for Syrian doctors and expands livelihoods programming, including vocational training.
IRAQ: More than $18 million
New total since the start of the crisis: Nearly $376 million
The Kurdistan Regional Government hosts 97 percent of Syrian refugees in Iraq. U.S. funding supports the repair and upgrade of shelters, improvements to water and sanitation systems in refugee and host communities, and the management and maintenance of camps. Funding also supports psychosocial care and the expansion and rehabilitation of schools, along with teacher training and the provision of school supplies.
EGYPT: $6 million
New total since the start of the crisis: More than $182 million
Our funding helps the 133,000 refugees from Syria meet their basic needs for shelter, healthcare, and education; prevents and responds to sexual and gender-based violence; protects vulnerable children; and increases self-reliance and livelihood opportunities.
Regional Funding: $3 million
New total since the start of the crisis: Nearly $26 million
U.S. funding supports the needs of Syrian refugees in the Middle East and North Africa region beyond the immediate Syria region and additional technical assistance to operations in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey.
Funding Numbers by Country*
| Country | This Announcement | Total – Since FY 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Syria | $135 million | $4.7 billion |
| Lebanon | $97 million | $2.1 billion |
| Jordan | $57 million | $1.3 billion |
| Turkey | $81 million | $814 million |
| Iraq | $18 million | $376 million |
| Egypt | $6 million | $182 million |
| Regional | $3 million | $26 million |
| TOTAL | $397 million | $9.5 billion |
*Figures may not add to total due to rounding.
For further information, please contact PRMPress@state.gov