Soros pledges $1 million to war-ravaged Syria

Humanitarian crisis result of government and rebels using denial of aid ‘tool of war,’ financier says

By AP 8 November 2013, 6:41 am 0 Edit

George Soros speaks at a conference in Berlin, April 2012. (photo credit: AP)

UNITED NATIONS — Billionaire financier George Soros is pledging $1 million for humanitarian efforts in war-ravaged Syria.

Soros announced the pledge to the International Rescue Committee on Wednesday night after receiving its Freedom Award in recognition of his lifelong support for human rights and an open society.

Soros said people are starving and will soon be freezing in Syria as winter arrives and malnutrition among children is increasing.

“This situation has arisen because both the government and the rebels use the denial of humanitarian aid as a tool of war,” Soros said.

While prospects for a political settlement have improved following a US-Russian agreement, he said “conditions for the civilian population are deteriorating because both sides continue to interfere with aid delivery in order to improve their negotiating positions in the coming peace talks.”