Britain has announced that it will send £5 million to Syrian rebels in order to further non-lethal assistance, stating that it was the “right thing to do”.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague announced earlier on Friday that the aid was for unarmed members of the opposition and human rights activists, in addition to £27.5 million in humanitarian aid for food and medical care.
The money is to be spent on satellite phones and radar equipment for the opposition, as well as,
In a press conference Hague also said on Syria,
Previously, the UK also announced that £1.4 million of non-lethal aid was to be provided to the Syrian opposition.
See our earlier post: UK doubles aid to Syrian opposition (30 March 2012)
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the US is preparing a fresh round of sanctions on the Syrian regime and is expected to announce an additional $5.5 million in humanitarian aid. It comes as the UN is also expected to appoint former Algerian foreign minister Lakhdar Brahimi as the new UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, after former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan resigned from the role last week.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague announced earlier on Friday that the aid was for unarmed members of the opposition and human rights activists, in addition to £27.5 million in humanitarian aid for food and medical care.
The money is to be spent on satellite phones and radar equipment for the opposition, as well as,
“medical supplies such as trauma kits, surgical equipment, medicines and water purification and to assist local doctors with the means to gather forensic evidence for any potential trials in future."
"We will help build local capacity among Syrian doctors to collect forensic evidence of torture that can be used in future trials. We will provide more training to support the documentation by Syrian activists of human rights violations and abuses, and to support steps to help Syrian opposition groups to uphold human rights.It was also stated that body armour would be provided for key activists, but underlined that it was for civil activists, rather than armed fighters.
In a press conference Hague also said on Syria,
"All nations have, in our view, a responsibility to act together to stop the bloodshed, and none more so than the members of the United Nations Security Council… I of course hope, as always, that we, Russia, China, the United States and all the members of the Council can settle our differences and agree steps to advance the political solution that Syria so desperately needs.
"But the people of Syria cannot wait indefinitely. People are dying and are often trapped without food and shelter. They are at the mercy of a regime that is hunting down its opponents, an army that has turned its weapons against civilians, and militias that are committing barbaric crimes."See his full statement here.
Previously, the UK also announced that £1.4 million of non-lethal aid was to be provided to the Syrian opposition.
See our earlier post: UK doubles aid to Syrian opposition (30 March 2012)
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the US is preparing a fresh round of sanctions on the Syrian regime and is expected to announce an additional $5.5 million in humanitarian aid. It comes as the UN is also expected to appoint former Algerian foreign minister Lakhdar Brahimi as the new UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, after former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan resigned from the role last week.
