Washington, Aug 8: US President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced an additional $195 million in humanitarian assistance to those affected by the ongoing conflict in Syria.
The announcement came on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the religious day celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a month of fasting.
The new US aid covers food and medical supplies in Syria as well as food vouchers and ready-to-eat meals for some 245,000 refugees sheltered in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, said the US State Department said in a statement Wednesday.
The latest amount of aid brought the US humanitarian aid to Syria to more than $1 billion since the country plunged into conflict in March 2011.
Obama authorised direct supply of light arms and ammunition to the Syrian rebels in June, as his administration has sought to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
