Washington, Mar 16 (IANS): The US has announced to provide over $12 million in humanitarian assistance to the Syrians, suffering from continued violence, through the UN and other humanitarian relief organisations.

"The United States is pursuing every avenue to get humanitarian relief into Syria and is engaged in focused diplomatic efforts to secure safe access for humanitarian organisations to reach those in need," Xinhua quoted the US State Department as saying in a statement Thursday.

The aid will be provided to help support international and non-governmental humanitarian partners, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which will receive $5.5 million, as well as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which will both get $3 million.

Another one million dollars will be given to support the non-governmental organisations (NGO), the statement said.

According to the statement, as part of a growing international effort to rush humanitarian aid to the needy Syrians to alleviate their suffering, the US will also bolster "existing regional stockpiles of humanitarian supplies and equipment to be delivered to vulnerable and besieged Syrian communities.

In March, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) issued a special alert to voice serious concern over the state of food security in Syria, especially for the vulnerable groups.

According to the WFP, 1.4 million Syrians have become food insecure. It plans to provide food aid to 100,000 people affected by the civil conflict in 11 governorates in Syria.