The hidden trail of Syrian aid

Feb 05

Episode

The hidden trail of Syrian aid

Are international funds reaching those who need it most?

Displaced Syrians, children and adults, wait for the daily distribution of food provided by a Turkish NGO at the Syrian Internal Displaced Camp on the border between Syria and Turkey, 09 December 2012. EPA/MAYSUN

Tuesday, February 5 at 19:30 GMT:

With UN reports that 60,000 Syrians have been killed and more than four million in need of humanitarian assistance, donor countries continue to pledge large sums of money. At a recent conference in Kuwait more than $1.5 billion was promised; however, with funds allocated to Syria's government, where will the money really go? And are these international donors partly to blame for the conflict?

In this episode of The Stream, we speak to:

Majid Rafizadeh, @majidrafizadeh
Middle East scholar and activist

Lara Setrakian @lara
Founder, Syria Deeply
syriadeeply.org

Razan Shalab Al Sham
Activist from Homs

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

View the story "The hidden trail of Syrian aid" on StorifyThe hidden trail of Syrian aidAre international funds reaching those who need it most?Storified by The Stream· Tue, Feb 05 2013 09:59:59Rami Jarrah (@AlexanderPageSy), co-director of Activists News Association, spoke to The Stream about the aid situation in Syria. Rami Jarrah speaks to The Stream about Syrian humanitarian aid by ajstreamRami Jarrah (@AlexanderPageSY), co-director of Activist News Organization, speaks to The Stream about humanitarian aid inside Syria.In this video released by the White House, US President Barack Obama announces his intention to provide funding to assist the humanitarian crisis in Syria. President Obama Announces $155 Million in Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the Syrian PeoplewhitehouseThis chart from an explanatory video posted on the blog 'Syria Deeply', demonstrates the money flow into Syria via official and unofficial channels:Money Flow - SyriaDeeplyAJstreamThis video outlines the more than $1.5 billion pledged at the Kuwait conference to assist Syrians.Donors pledge over $1.5bn to help SyriansAlJazeeraEnglishThe following infographic, created by Delta Bravo, shows the geopolitical impact of the Syrian crisis.
SyriaCrisis_DeltaBravo2AJstreamMeanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Syria is worsening. This week in Aleppo, nearly 80 people, many of them civilians, were found 'executed' in a river. 65 People Shot Dead In Aleppo ( Updated )patrynxxxfunchannelAttacks are carried out on a regular basis, often against civilians. Syria: Scores Killed in Bakery Attacks (***VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED)humanrightswatchEuropean parliament member Koert Debeuf visits A'azaz refugee camp, where they lack water, milk for babies, and other basic supplies:ANA Exclusive European official visits A'azaz camp of AleppoANAChannelEngThis second part of the Delta Bravo infographic outlines the humanitarian impact of the conflict. SyriaCrisis_DeltaBravo1AJstreamThe map below from the International Rescue Committee demonstrates the refugee crisis facing Syria, with over 700,000 displaced persons.RescueDespite the situation, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was hopeful that the money earned in Kuwait would help the hundreds of thousands of refugees in need of aid. Big day in Kuwait for govs, humanitarian community & people of #Syria. @UNOCHA explains why! http://rfg.ee/hftOS #SyriaResponseUN Refugee AgencyAdditionally, some organisations, like the World Food Programme, have been able to get supplies to refugees. Aid to Syrian refugeesjaspnoradThis announcement, posted on Sheikh Mouaz Alkhatib Alhasani's Facebook page, is the first call for dialogue from the Syrian opposition, though no official statement has been released.

Translation: The revolution continues, and the subject of buying time has ended. However, the Syrian people have faced this unprecedented crisis. So, in order to bolster goodwill, find a political solution to the crisis, and organise things to transition without an excess of bloodshed, I'm announcing that I am ready to sit down directly with representatives of the Syrian regime in Cairo, Tunis or Istanbul. It is not right for one to compromise on the freedom for which our people have paid dearly with their blood, so I stipulate these two essential conditions for the Syrian people as the preliminary price of sitting down with representatives of the government:

First: The release of 160,000 prisoners – first of all women, Air Force Intelligence prisoners and those imprisoned in Sednaya Prison.

Second: All governmental embassies must allow all Syrians whose passports have expired to attain new passports or to extend their passports for a period of at least two years.

Ahmed Maaz Alkhatib

President of the Syrian Coalition

30 January 2013

Diplomatic Talks - facebookAJstreamThis map charts oil flow through the region, demonstrating Syria's crucial position. HuffingtonpostJournalists and Syria activists discussed the humanitarian aid issue on Twitter:Every day #Assad jets & tanks bomb #Syria cities - destroying homes & murdering civilians - so #UN give him $1/2bil in 'aid' for his victimsAlexblx@Mwforhr @SsmDad @SlaughterAM cameras and comm equipment. That's great, but they need medicine, food, housing - or an end to the crisisJames Miller (ميلر)If we could just stop the frickin bombing we could get aid in!! It's insanity. @JMiller_EA @SsmDad #SyriaMarianneInternational aid (Obama's money) to syria http://pic.twitter.com/ZrmKZGau via @SPRINGNOWTIMENuff SilenceSo many of our 250,000 disappeared in #Assad dungeons are dying of starvation and torture and lack of medecine for chronic illnesses. 1/2Rana KabbaniKafranbel does it yet again today. Assad's "Terror's Got Talent" has the entire world amused. #genius #Syria http://pic.twitter.com/3sVE06xANora BashaMessage to the @UN from the people of Banias. #Syria #Iraq - http://pic.twitter.com/1qXvrUPDNora Basha