Since 2011, the U.S. Agency for International Development has provided over $5 billion of the $9.5 billion U.S. government humanitarian and stabilization assistance to the people of Syria. As a key element of U.S. policy, USAID aims to alleviate human suffering in Syria.

The United States is the leading donor of humanitarian assistance in response to the Syria crisis and also provides funding for stabilization programs inside Syria. Additionally, the United States has raised over $150 million from coalition donors to support critical U.S.-led stabilization programs. USAID assistance reaches 5 million Syrians every month including those displaced to other countries by the crisis.  Humanitarian assistance provides critical life-saving support across all of Syria’s 14 governorates.  USAID stabilization programming supports three overarching policy objectives:  

I.    The enduring defeat of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).  

II.    The removal of Iranian forces and proxies from Syria.

III.    Implementation of UNSCR 2254:  The United States will not provide any reconstruction funding to regime-held areas in Syria until it ceases to be a state sponsor of terrorism; does not threaten its neighbors; verifiably dismantles and surrenders its weapons of mass destruction; creates conditions for the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of refugees and internally displaced persons; and holds accountable those who have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity.  

OUR STABILIZATION WORK

SYRIA ESSENTIAL SERVICES II (SES II): SES II partners with a variety of Syrian entities to restore essential services, jumpstart economic recovery, and build local capacity to respond to community needs. Working with local officials, civil society organizations, and private sector actors SES helps ensure essential services are restored and managed equitably. In April 2019, SES restored power to approximately 500,000 residents in Raqqa City. Additionally, SES rehabilitated the Tabqa Hospital and handed over the refurbished facility to the Health Committee of Tabqa in May 2018. The hospital is able to serve up to 500,000 people in its catchment area.

PROMOTING INCLUSIVE AND DEMOCRATIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM (PRIDE II): Supports the establishment of robust, inclusive, effective, and accountable democratic processes and institutions in Syria, and advances freedom and dignity to non-regime local councils. PRIDE has noted success in increasing individual citizen knowledge and awareness of democratic governance practices, and cultivates democratic actors over the long term. The project has trained more than 14,200 Syrians (46 percent women and 30 percent minorities) through 1,528 civic education sessions where citizens learn to engage their local leaders through civic discussion groups. 

SUPPORTING LIVELIHOODS IN SYRIA (SLS): Through multiple activities, SLS improves household-level food security and strengthens economic resilience in targeted communities. Interventions focus on agricultural and livestock production, market access, water management, irrigation, and sustainable land use techniques to create livelihoods critical for food security. Working jointly with USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and Food for Peace, SLS blends the speed of humanitarian assistance with the longer-term focus of development assistance.  SLS has helped thousands of farmers with everything from animal feed and vaccinations to drip irrigation systems, with many programs directed toward women-led households.

SYRIA REGIONAL PROGRAM (SRP): SRP works closely with trusted and vetted local organizations to implement quick-impact activities that promote an inclusive and stable Syria. USAID helps these partners stay relevant and able to serve as a bulwark against extremism. USAID also helps support the White Helmets, the heroic first responders operating in an active war zone and in dire humanitarian circumstances, under deliberate targeting by the Syrian regime and Russia.

SYRIA RECOVERY TRUST FUND (SRTF): SRTF is a multi-donor funding mechanism supported by fourteen countries. Contributions finance essential services and early recovery programming in critical sectors including health, electricity, water, agriculture and food security, education, and waste management benefiting over 8 million Syrians. The USG’s contribution of $60 million to date has leveraged over $250 million in other donor contributions. SRTF projects continue to make positive impacts on the lives of Syrians with 6,665 farmers having received seeds and fertilizer, 256,051 Syrians having benefited from monthly food security projects and 53,645 households having benefited from solid waste removal projects.