Dear Rori Donaghy

Thank you for your FOI request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It has been assigned a unique reference number (above) and has been passed to the relevant section within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to deal with. They will be in touch with you should your request need clarification.

We received your request on 03 February 2016 and will aim to respond within 20 working days, following date of receipt.

Yours sincerely

FOI and DPA Team
Foreign and Commonwealth Office

From: Rori Donaghy [mailto:[FOI #314008 email]]
Sent: 03 February 2016 09:52
To: FOI-DPA IMD (Sensitive)
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Funding given to "White Helmets" in Syria

Dear Foreign and Commonwealth Office,

Please can you provide details of how much money has been given to
the White Helmets group operating in Syria and how this money has
been accounted for.

Yours faithfully,

Rori Donaghy

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1 April 2016

Dear Mr Donaghy,

We are responding by email outside the terms of the Freedom of Information
Agreement.  We have now completed the search for the information which you
requested.  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does hold
information relevant to your request.

The United Kingdom has provided support to Syria Civil Defence (also known
as the White Helmets) through the cross-departmental Conflict Pool and its
successor, the Conflict Stability and Security Fund.  Our assistance has
been delivered through trusted third party implementers. The total value
of funds committed between June 2013 and the end of the current financial
year (31 March 2016) is £19.7m.  All funds are accounted for in line with
HMG guidelines, including the receipt and review of quarterly financial
reports.

Our support to Syria Civil Defence is part of a coordinated international
programme of assistance.  It has helped to provide the Syrian-led
organisation of over 2800 volunteers with much-needed training and
equipment.  As at February 2016, they have saved more than 50,000 lives
and were nominated for the Nobel peace prize in both 2015 and 2016 in
recognition of their efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian
people.  

Yours sincerely,

On behalf of the

Near East Department

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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