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| Donors pledge $1.1bn for UN Syria aid operation | Donors pledge $1.1bn for UN Syria aid operation |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| King Abdullah of Jordan, which is hosting 224,000 refugees, warned its resources were "exhausted", adding: "We have reached the end of the line." | |
| 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 he spoke, Syrian 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, they 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". |
| Meanwhile, Israeli forces attacked a target on the Syrian-Lebanese border overnight, a Western diplomat and a security source told the Reuters news agency. The Israeli military refused to comment. | Meanwhile, Israeli forces attacked a target on the Syrian-Lebanese border overnight, a Western diplomat and a security source told the Reuters news agency. The Israeli military refused to comment. |
| Lebanon's army reported earlier that 12 Israeli warplanes had violated its airspace in the past 24 hours and flown over southern villages. | Lebanon's army reported earlier that 12 Israeli warplanes had violated its airspace in the past 24 hours and flown over southern villages. |
| Israel's Vice-Prime Minister Silvan Shalom said on Sunday that his country might intervene if Syria's military was losing control of its chemical weapons. | |
| '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. |
| Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah said the "horrifying reports" of violence were a "cause for concern over the security of Syria [and] its future". | |
| 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. | 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. | 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, Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa $20m, and the German foreign ministry 10m euros ($13.5m; £8.5m). | UK International Development Secretary Justine Greening pledged £50m, Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa $20m, and the German foreign ministry 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!" | Melissa Fleming, chief spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, later wrote on Twitter: "Pledges so far over $1.1 billion for #SyriaResponse!" |
| 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 either to 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. |