The Trump administration is pushing U.S. allies to increase their support for White Helmets and other nongovernmental medical aid groups operating in Syria, even though the U.S. has temporarily suspended its support to that group as part of an ongoing review of all aid to Syria.
“We are actively reviewing our current Syria assistance programs at the President’s request, including U.S. support for the White Helmets,” an official told the Washington Examiner. “The President has been clear that partners and allies should assume a larger role in stabilizing Syria.”
Trump suspended funding for White Helmets in March, as part of a blanket freeze covering $200 million in humanitarian aid to Syria. Russia, which has accused White Helmets of working with terrorists to stage evidence of chemical weapons attacks, mocked the U.S. decision.
“Fantastic news came today — the U.S. Department of State has frozen funding for the White Helmets non-governmental organization active in Syria,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Friday, according to TASS, a state-run media outlet. “What’s wrong? Didn’t they like the last film? Maybe, there are some other reasons?”
Despite the funding pause, the State Department credits the group with “work[ing] tirelessly as first responders in order to save lives in incredibly dangerous environments.” But the group warned that U.S. funding needs to be restored soon.
“If this is a long-term or permanent halt, it would have a serious impact on our ability to provide the same intensity and quality of services that we currently provide to civilians,” Raed Saleh, who leads the White Helmets, told CBS in a report on the funding suspension.
The White Helmets have received more than $33 million in U.S. aid since 2013, according to the State Department. “The US jointly supports the White Helmets with other donors and we expect their operations to continue as a result of additional multilateral donations,” the official said.
