Nikki Haley at Syrian Refugee Camp: 'U.S. Aid Will Continue'

Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, emphasized during her visit to a refugee camp in Jordan that U.S. financial aid to Syrian camps will continue. On May 21, during her visit to the 'Zaatari' camp near the Syrian border, she stated that the U.S. is the 'number one donor in this crisis' regarding the consequences of the civil war in Syria. The U.S. representative at the UN said that this aid will not be cut: 'We will not stop providing such financial assistance. The fact that I am here indicates that we want to see what other needs must be addressed.' Haley added that her country has spent $6.5 billion to assist Syrian citizens affected by the civil war. The 'Zaatari' camp houses nearly 80,000 Syrian refugees, with almost half of them being children. During her visit to this camp, Haley also inspected part of a convoy of aid for Syria, consisting of 20 vehicles intended to deliver UN assistance to areas controlled by rebels. The head of the U.S. delegation to the UN stated, 'We want you to know that the United States stands with you.' Haley's remarks come at a time when President Donald Trump has called for cuts to the diplomatic and foreign aid sectors of the U.S. In his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Trump reduced funding for the U.S. diplomatic apparatus and foreign aid by 28 percent. This bill also included cuts to the budget for the UN and programs like cultural exchange and climate change mitigation. The Syrian civil war continues for the seventh consecutive year without political negotiations and international efforts finding a final solution to end it. Hundreds of thousands of Syrian citizens have been killed over these years, and at least half of the country's population has been displaced.