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<p>At the "Supporting Syria and the Region London 2016" Conference on 4
February more than US$11 billion was pledged to support people in Syria and the region
affected by the conflict. This is the largest amount raised in one day for a humanitarian
crisis. Commitments made at the Conference will help create 1.1 million jobs and provide
education to an additional 1 million children. The UK remains at the forefront of
the response to the crisis in Syria and the region. We have doubled our commitment
and have now pledged a total more than £2.3 billion, our largest ever response to
a single humanitarian crisis.</p><p> </p><p>The UN reports that the potential to purchase
grain from the Jazira Canton of Syria is unchanged compared with their analysis of
June 2015. The Jazira Canton, covering the wheat producing areas of Al Hassakeh and
Ar Raqqa, remains under the control of the Syrian regime, the Kurdish authorities
and Daesh. Humanitarian access to these areas is therefore, restricted by continued
violence, insecurity and wilful obstruction. Control of access routes in the Jazira
Canton by armed groups means that the UN are unable to access wheat producing areas,
assess the quality of the wheat produced, or transport it to other regions. In addition,
the milling capacity within Al Hassakeh governorate is insufficient to meet the operational
needs of the UN. According to the UN, bread availability in Al Hasakeh and Ar Raqqa
is currently adequate, thus reducing the need for the UN to buy wheat grain for local
distribution.</p><p> </p><p>The UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the UN
World Food Programme , committing £227 million to provide food support in Syria and
the region since the start of the crisis. By the end of June 2015, UK support inside
Syria had provided over 15.1 million food rations, each of which feeds one person
for one month; access to clean water for over 1.6 million people; and more than 4
million relief packages.</p>
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