Developing guidelines for US humanitarian aid for the Syrian

Opposition:Preventing the flow of aid to

terrorists and the Assad Regime

Prepared by:

Julio Amador IIISeth Binder

Ranitya KusumadewiCarlos M. Wong

 

Independent Consultants Inc.

The US Department of State believes that some humanitarian aid funded by the US is diverted to terrorist organizations and the Assad regime.

Problem

500,000 refugees 1.2 million internally displaced Estimated Total Number Displaced to Turkey 120,147 Estimated Total Number Displaced to Lebanon

127,420 Estimated Total Number Displaced to Jordan 123,076 Estimated Total Number Displaced to Iraq 54,175

Background

U.S. provided $200 million, $112 million inside Syria, $88 million to surrounding countries

E.U. provided $367 million Others $174 million Saudi Arabia $72 million China $7 million Russia $8 million

Where the money comes from

Food and water Clothing Shelter Medical supplies Educational supplies Logistics

Types of humanitarian aid

Basic appropriation process President has full discretion as to how he

distributes the aid Cannot contradict U.S. Law

Delegated Authority to Department of State (Secretary of State)- DoS in charge of Foreign Aid- USAID in charge of Humanitarian Aid

Current Organizational Process

Foreign Aid (USAID/OFDA)◦Non-Food Humanitarian Aid

Food (USAID/FFP)◦Food Based Humanitarian Aid

Preventing use of US humanitarian aid to terrorist groups and the Assad Regime◦establish guidelines on how US funds

committed to humanitarian aid are used.◦accreditation system needs to be created

to screen local NGO partners in Syria.◦establish a post-disbursement

mechanism to determine whether aid is use properly.

Proposed Policy Framework

Coordinated humanitarian aid delivery◦Work with the governments of neighboring

countries to help vulnerable Syrians. ◦Increase aid to Syria’s neighboring

countries that are receiving Syrian refugees.

◦Diplomatically active with partner states to guarantee the delivery of humanitarian aid. possibility of humanitarian plan

◦Increased commitment on delivering the humanitarian aid both financial and non-monetary.

Increase diplomatic initiatives with allies and other countries ◦Encourage allies such as Israel to donate

funds for the humanitarian aid effort. ◦A fund for Syria should be established

that shall be bankrolled by major powers for post-conflict reconstruction.

Beyond 2012, the State Department must have stricter rules governing humanitarian aid if further assistance shall be allocated to Syrian IDPs and refugees.

The US also needs stronger coordination in humanitarian aid delivery and increase diplomatic initiatives with allies and other countries.

Conclusion