Apr 13, 2013 11:19 AM EDT
U.S. to Send $10 Million in Food And Medical Aid to Syrian Rebels

The United States announced on Thursday that they will be supplying the Syrian rebels with $10 million in food and medical aid, according to NBC News.

All of the materials will be non-lethal and marks the first time the U.S. supplied aid directly to the opposition, the White House announced.

"Medical kits and MREs (meals ready to eat) will be provided to the Syrian Opposition Coalition and to the Syrian opposition's Supreme Military Council," NBC reports.

This is in addition to the previous $60 million Secretary of State John Kerry said would be provided to the rebels back in February.

Overall, the U.S. has now pledged $117 million in non-lethal assistance, $385 million in humanitarian aid for displaced citizens of Syria and refugees as well as an addition $10 million in medical aid.

According to NBC, "It will take several weeks for the aid to be delivered to the Syrian opposition."

It was also announced that the U.S. military will not be partaking in any of the deliveries.

President Barack Obama released a memo that further elaborated on which organizations will be receiving the aid.

"I therefore direct the drawdown of up to $10 million in nonlethal commodities and services from the inventory and resources of any agency of the United States Government to provide food and medical supplies to the SOC and the SMC for distribution to those in need," his memo states.

White House spokesman Jay Carney also spoke about the food and medical aid, claiming that this will help bolster the Syrian rebels efforts in their fight.

"We have provided more than $115 million in nonlethal assistance to the Syrian opposition thus far and have been steadily increasing that assistance to help the opposition become stronger, more cohesive and more organized," Carney said. "We are on an upward trajectory with our assistance, both humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people and direct...nonlethal assistance to the Syrian opposition."

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