The President has authorized the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to release approximately $6.25 million for the continuation of life-saving operations of the Syrian Civil Defense, more commonly known as the "White Helmets" -- an internationally renowned non-governmental organization composed of over 3,000 volunteer first-responders.

These funds will provide the White Helmets with critical equipment, vehicles, and other assistance needed to continue their work to save lives. USAID has provided over $33 million in financial assistance to the White Helmets since 2013. We are proud to support these heroic first-responders, who have saved more than 114,000 lives since the conflict began, including victims of the Assad regime's brutal chemical-weapons attacks.