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Gulf states pledge $600m for Syria aid Donors pledge $1.1bn for UN Syria aid operation
(about 1 hour later)
Kuwait and the UAE have pledged $600m (£380m) to help civilians affected by the conflict in Syria at the start of a conference of international donors. More than $1.1bn (£700m) has been pledged to help civilians affected by the conflict in Syria at a conference of international donors, the UN says.
Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah said the "horrifying reports" of violence in Syria had raised questions about the future of the country. Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah opened the meeting with a donation of $300m, which was matched by the UAE and, reportedly, Saudi Arabia.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon meanwhile appealed to all sides to stop fighting "in the name of humanity".UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon meanwhile appealed to all sides to stop fighting "in the name of humanity".
As they spoke, state media blamed a rebel group for a massacre in Aleppo. As he spoke, Syrian state media blamed a rebel group for a massacre in Aleppo.
The bodies of more than 70 men and teenaged boys were found on Tuesday on the banks of the River Quwaiq in the second city's rebel-held western district of Bustan al-Qasr.The bodies of more than 70 men and teenaged boys were found on Tuesday on the banks of the River Quwaiq in the second city's rebel-held western district of Bustan al-Qasr.
Most of the dead had their hands tied behind their backs and gunshots wounds to their heads, suggesting they were executed summarily.Most of the dead had their hands tied behind their backs and gunshots wounds to their heads, suggesting they were executed summarily.
On Wednesday, the state news agency Sana reported that the families of the victims had "identified a number of the killed, stressing that the al-Nusra Front abducted them because of their refusal to co-operate".On Wednesday, the state news agency Sana reported that the families of the victims had "identified a number of the killed, stressing that the al-Nusra Front abducted them because of their refusal to co-operate".
Sana's reporter said the water level in the river was too low to carry the bodies any distance suggesting they had been killed in Bustan al-Qasr.Sana's reporter said the water level in the river was too low to carry the bodies any distance suggesting they had been killed in Bustan al-Qasr.
However, locals said several of those killed were from rebel-held districts and had disappeared after crossing into those under government control. Some had been detained by security forces, the added. However, locals said several of those killed were from rebel-held districts and had disappeared after crossing into those under government control. Some had been detained by security forces, they added.
The main opposition alliance, the National Coalition, called for an investigation and warned that "ongoing global inaction towards human rights violations encourages the killers to continue their crimes".The main opposition alliance, the National Coalition, called for an investigation and warned that "ongoing global inaction towards human rights violations encourages the killers to continue their crimes".
'Resources exhausted''Resources exhausted'
Addressing the International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria in Kuwait City on Wednesday, Ban Ki-moon described the situation in Syria as "catastrophic".Addressing the International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria in Kuwait City on Wednesday, Ban Ki-moon described the situation in Syria as "catastrophic".
"I appeal to all sides, and particularly the Syrian government, to stop the killing... in the name of humanity, stop the killing, stop the violence," the UN chief said."I appeal to all sides, and particularly the Syrian government, to stop the killing... in the name of humanity, stop the killing, stop the violence," the UN chief said.
He also called for urgent financial aid to ease the suffering of civilians, warning that if funds were not forthcoming "more Syrians will die".He also called for urgent financial aid to ease the suffering of civilians, warning that if funds were not forthcoming "more Syrians will die".
The UN has set a funding target of $1.5bn, which it says it needs to provide food, shelter and other aid to the some four million people inside Syria and 700,000 others who have fled to neighbouring countries.The UN has set a funding target of $1.5bn, which it says it needs to provide food, shelter and other aid to the some four million people inside Syria and 700,000 others who have fled to neighbouring countries.
The money will fund operations during the next six months, but before Wednesday the UN had received pledges for only 18% of the target.The money will fund operations during the next six months, but before Wednesday the UN had received pledges for only 18% of the target.
Kuwait's emir opened the conference by calling for humanitarian efforts in Syria to be redoubled and announcing a donation of $300m.Kuwait's emir opened the conference by calling for humanitarian efforts in Syria to be redoubled and announcing a donation of $300m.
Shortly afterwards, the pledge was matched by the United Arab Emirates, which was represented by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nuhayyan, according to the UAE state news agency, Wam. Sheikh Sabah said the "horrifying reports" of violence were a "cause for concern over the security of Syria, its future... and over the security and future of the region".
Shortly afterwards, the pledge was matched by the United Arab Emirates, which was represented by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nuhayyan, according to UAE state news agency, Wam.
A Gulf official told the AFP news agency that Saudi Arabia had promised a further $300m. Al-Jazeera TV reported that the announcement was made by Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Asaf.
UK International Development Secretary Justine Greening pledged £50m in new funding, Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa pledged $20m, and the German foreign ministry offered 10m euros ($13.5m; £8.5m).
Melissa Fleming, chief spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, later wrote on Twitter: "Pledges so far over $1.1 billion for #SyriaResponse!"
King Abdullah of Jordan, which is hosting more than 185,000 Syrian refugees, warned his country's resources had been "exhausted", adding: "We have reached the end of the line."King Abdullah of Jordan, which is hosting more than 185,000 Syrian refugees, warned his country's resources had been "exhausted", adding: "We have reached the end of the line."
UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos said the winter weather had made matters worse, particularly for women and children, with many struggling without suitable clothes, blankets or fuel.UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos said the winter weather had made matters worse, particularly for women and children, with many struggling without suitable clothes, blankets or fuel.
"We are watching a human tragedy unfold before our eyes," she added."We are watching a human tragedy unfold before our eyes," she added.
On Tuesday evening, the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said international aid was not being distributed equally within Syria, with government-controlled areas receiving nearly all of it.On Tuesday evening, the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said international aid was not being distributed equally within Syria, with government-controlled areas receiving nearly all of it.
"The current aid system is unable to address the worsening living conditions facing people inside Syria," MSF president Dr Marie-Pierre Allie said in a statement."The current aid system is unable to address the worsening living conditions facing people inside Syria," MSF president Dr Marie-Pierre Allie said in a statement.
MSF said rebels controlled areas where at least a third of the country's population - about seven million people - were currently living.MSF said rebels controlled areas where at least a third of the country's population - about seven million people - were currently living.
The UN said 49% of the food aid it was distributing to 1.5 million people in co-operation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and other aid agencies was delivered to areas either rebel-held or contested areas. The UN said 49% of the food aid it was distributing to 1.5 million people in co-operation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and other aid agencies was delivered either to rebel-held or contested areas.