U.S. Government Agency Suspends Syrian Aid Programs, Fearing Fraud

The U.S. government agency responsible for humanitarian aid, USAID, has frozen several contracts in Syria worth $239 million for fear of fraud, the Washington Post reported.

In April, a formal investigation into the suspected fraud was announced, but the suspension has affected the ability of life-saving assistance, such as food and medicine, to reach civilians in Syria since December. Without financial support, some hospitals in war-torn Aleppo were almost forced to shut down.

USAID opened 25 investigations, with some two-thirds having to do with theft or fraud, after receiving at least 116 complaints of exploitation. Among those under investigation are programs run by international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as the International Medical Corps (IMC), the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and GOAL.

The U.S. has pledged $5.5 billion for aid, making it the leading humanitarian donor in Syria. Distribution of the U.S. pledge goes through the United Nations and a number of other humanitarian organizations.

Aid organizations working in northern Syria and other areas out of the government’s control are only able to carry out cross-border operations, which has become increasingly dangerous as the violence escalates. Consequently, international NGOs often rely on local partners to work and deliver aid within Syria.

ISIS Claim Responsibility for Qamishli Attack Killing 50

At least 50 people were killed and dozens more were wounded when two explosions hit the Kurdish-majority town of Qamishli in northeastern Syria on Wednesday, Al-Jazeera reported.

SANA, Syria’s state-run news outlet, said an explosives-laden truck was detonated on the western edge of the town, followed by an explosive-laden motorcycle a few minutes later. ISIS claimed the double suicide bombing that targeted the Kurdish police center and a neighboring government building, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

ISIS has previously carried out several attacks in Kurdish areas. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are the main faction fighting ISIS in northern Syria, and are an alliance of mostly Kurdish, as well as Arab, fighters.

The SDF, backed by U.S.-coalition airstrikes, have been waging an offensive on the ISIS-held northern town of Manbij in the past eight weeks, and have reportedly liberated 80 percent of the town from the militants, according to the Voice of America. Last week, the SDF gave ISIS fighters a 48-hour period to surrender their weapons and leave the town, in an attempt to cut back on civilian deaths in the ongoing battles, but the militants did not leave.

Dozens of civilians killed by the U.S.-led airstrikes on the Manbij offensive have led to a local and international pushback. The U.S. military has responded to the claims, saying it is carrying out a “credibility assessment” on civilian deaths in coalition airstrikes.

Syrian Army Texts Residents of Rebel-Held Aleppo Warning Them to Leave

The Syrian army reportedly sent text messages to residents in opposition-held areas of eastern Aleppo telling them to leave, according to Reuters.

The text messages said the army would give safe passage to residents wanting to leave rebel-held Aleppo and offered temporary accommodation, asking them to push “mercenaries” out of Aleppo.

Eastern Aleppo has been under siege by government forces since July 7, after a government offensive backed by Russian airstrikes cut off the only supply route to rebel-held parts of the city, Castello Road. Nearly 300,000 residents have been trapped, amid growing international concern of food, fuel and medicine shortages.

The U.N. humanitarian chief has called for 48-hour local truces across Syria to facilitate aid deliveries, and asked the Security Council to push for the cease-fire on Monday.

Recommended Reads:

• The Century Foundation: Are Syria’s Rebels at al-Qaida’s Mercy?
• BBC News: Turkey’s Erdogan Criticizes E.U. Over Syria Refugee Deal
• Al Jazeera: What Draws Foreign Fighters to Iraq and Syria?
• DW: The Final Ounce of Diplomacy Devoted to Syria
• The Washington Post: Pentagon Says Proposed Russian Deal in Syria Is ‘Not Based on Trust’