HIGHLIGHTS
USG announces more than $364 million in new humanitarian funding for Syria and neighboring countries
SARG and GoRF resume airstrikes on September 19 following dissolution of new CoH agreement
UN officially designates eastern Aleppo city as a besieged location; humanitarian conditions deteriorate significantly
Airstrikes on UN humanitarian convoy in Big Orem, Aleppo, kills multiple aid workers
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
On September 27, the U.S. Government (USG) announced more than $364 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the Syria response, bringing the total USG assistance to nearly $6 billion since 2011. The new funding will support the emergency relief activities of the UN and other humanitarian organizations, including the provision of emergency food, medicine, safe drinking water, and other relief supplies to conflictaffected people in Syria and neighboring countries.
The USG and Government of the Russian Federation (GoRF) reached a new cessation of hostilities (CoH) agreement on September 9 that required all parties to halt territorial advances; permit unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all UN-designated besieged and hard-to-reach areas; and allow safe and unhindered access between western and eastern Aleppo city. On September 19, the Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG) unilaterally announced the end of its participation in the CoH, and the SARG and GoRF resumed airstrikes throughout the country, with markedly intensified attacks in eastern Aleppo city.
Airstrikes on September 19 targeted a UN interagency convoy in Aleppo Governorate’s town of Big Orem, resulting in at least 18 deaths, including the head of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) in Big Orem, destroying multiple trucks, and damaging a warehouse. The convoy planned to deliver humanitarian assistance to 78,000 people.
On September 29, the UN officially designated eastern Aleppo city as a besieged location, where humanitarian conditions have deteriorated for up to 275,000 people following the closure of Castello and Ramouseh roads—the primary supply routes into the oppositionheld areas—in mid-July and early September, respectively.