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Syrian women and girls risk being forgotten, says Greening UK to send armoured vehicles to Syrian opposition
(35 minutes later)
Humanitarian aid is needed to ensure women and girls avoid becoming the "forgotten victims" of the Syrian crisis, International Development Secretary Justine Greening has warned. The UK is to provide armoured vehicles and body armour to opposition forces in Syria "to help save lives", Foreign Secretary William Hague has said.
The number of refugees to have left the country has reached one million, according to the United Nations. It will offer millions of pounds in "non-lethal" equipment, including search and rescue, communications, and disease-prevention materials.
Ms Greening called it a "terrible landmark" and promised to help "as quickly and effectively as possible". Mr Hague said it was a "necessary, proportionate and lawful" response to "extreme human suffering".
Two-thirds of those who have left are women and children, the UN says. Up to 70,000 people have been killed and a million refugees have fled.
The conflict in Syria began almost two years ago with demonstrations against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
It has left more than 70,000 people dead and two million internally displaced.
'Full-scale disaster'
The latest UN figures show that at least one million people have fled abroad, including 400,000 since the start of the year, with the largest number seeking shelter in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.The latest UN figures show that at least one million people have fled abroad, including 400,000 since the start of the year, with the largest number seeking shelter in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres has warned that Syria is "spiralling towards a full-scale disaster" and that international response capacity is "dangerously stretched". UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres has warned that Syria was "spiralling towards a full-scale disaster" and that international response capacity is "dangerously stretched".
Displaced women were at particular risk of abuse and exploitation, Ms Greening said. Mr Hague told Parliament the Syrian people were in "dire need" of help and the UK could not "look the other way" in the face of the escalating humanitarian crisis and what he said were human rights violations by the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
She added: "One million refugees is a terrible landmark and the most vulnerable groups are inevitably those who find themselves at greatest risk. He announced a £13m package of logistical and humanitarian support for areas under opposition control which he said was possible after changes to the terms of the EU's arms embargo were agreed last week.
"Syria's neighbours cannot deal with this alone and all donors must rapidly deliver on the promises they made in Kuwait. The UK will provide non-combat armoured vehicles to opposition forces to help them move around in safety, as well as body armour. Other material being provided includes communications equipment and support for the electricity grid and water supply.
"We are working closely with agencies on the ground. Britain has never stood on the sidelines and we are determined to make sure our support gets help to those in need as quickly and effectively as possible." "The Cabinet is in no doubt that this is a necessary, proportionate and lawful response to a situation of extreme humanitarian suffering, and that there is no practicable alternative," he said.
Ms Greening called for measures to prevent violence against women and girls to be factored into all humanitarian work in the region. "All our assistance will be carefully calibrated and monitored as well as legal, and will be aimed at saving life, alleviating this human catastrophe and supporting moderate groups."
In December, the UN estimated 1.1 million Syrians would arrive in neighbouring countries by the end of June. It is adjusting its plan in light of the new figures. The UK will also provide "assistance, advice and training" for opposition forces, while Mr Hague said the UK could not rule out further support, adding that all options remained on the table.