Secretary of State John Kerry announced Friday that the US is providing nearly USD 500 million in additional humanitarian aid to help those affected by the war in Syria.
"This is the largest funding announcement made by the United States in response to the largest appeal the United Nations has ever issued," said State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf to reporters Friday.
A portion of the US aid will facilitate a UN Security Council resolution that will authorize UN agencies to bring assistance across conflict lines and borders in and around Syria.
The State Department affirmed in a statement that "6.5 million civilians have been displaced within Syria, and the UN estimates that nearly 11 million Syrians are in need of aid within the country and face threats, displacement, hunger, injury, and death due to the appalling tactics of the Assad regime and extremist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)."