“The US Department of State is working with Congress to provide nearly $70 million in new non-lethal assistance,” the statement read. “[W]ith this additional funding, the United States will have committed nearly $400 million in assistance that supports the Syrian opposition since the start of the [2011] revolution.”
The assistance will include about $30 million to enable the opposition and local governments to provide “basic services and governance” to communities, while supporting Damascus’ civil defense workers who work as emergency first responders, according to the statement.
The State Department said it will also provide support to document war crimes, human rights violations and abuses by the Syrian regime, as well as armed and extremist groups in Syria, in order to facilitate accountability.
“Looking ahead, these efforts will help inform future reconciliation initiatives and engender a lasting peace.”
The US non-lethal assistance is also intended to support activists, civil society members, journalists and other opposition actors.
