Additional items were added at the US State Department’s budget for Syria

Syrian opposition organizations in the United States, including the Syrian American Council and the American Coalition for Syria, have revealed that they have succeeded in including three new items related to Syria in the budgets of the US State Department and the US Agency for International Development.

Mohammed Alaa Ghanem, a policy officer at the US Coalition for Syria, explained that the first item includes allocating $15 million to the White Helmets, despite President Joe Biden’s administration’s plans to reduce the budget allocated to a number of international humanitarian programs.

Ghanem added that the second clause stipulates that northwestern Syria is considered a disaster area that deserves special funding under the name of restoring stability.

This funding includes the rehabilitation of schools and universities, the payment of teachers’ salaries, the construction of roads and bridges, and the repair of infrastructure.

He pointed out that northwestern Syria has been deliberately deprived of this funding for many years, pointing out that the US government has been focusing this type of support on the areas where its forces are present in northeastern Syria, only sending relief aid to the northwest of the country despite the great need.

Ghanem pointed out that the inclusion of this item is an important political achievement that will revive this region, praising the pure Syrian efforts that contributed to changing US policy despite the opposition of the US administration.

The third clause prohibits the Syrian government from benefiting from any funding allocated by the United States to Syria, even indirectly.

Ghanem explained that although the US government doesn’t provide direct support to the Syrian government, part of the money it sends through the United Nations and other organizations ends up in the hands of the Syrian government and its associated parties indirectly, as these organizations deal with the Syrian government or its affiliates.

Ghanem noted that this initiative is expected to have the support of Democratic members of Congress, praising the efforts of Republican Congressman, Joe Wilson, and his team in introducing and supporting these items.