ANKARA
"Turkey has made a great work. But it should not be alone in this. US has been making major efforts to the international efforts," Anne C. Richard, the assistant secretary of state for population, refugees, and migration, told Friday a press conference in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Richard was part of a US delegation visiting Turkey, that also included Nancy Lindborg, assistant administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance with US Agency for International Development and Robert Ford, US ambassador to Syria.
Richard also said the US officials have been talking to their counterparts about the possibility of an increasing flow of refugees, adding, "I pray it doesn't happen. We would be foolish not to make such preparations."
Also speaking at the press meeting, Lindborg said their visit in Turkey aimed to give a strong message to the Syrian people that US was in solidarity with them.
She said the Damascus regime cut off access to basic needs such as fuel and flour, adding that US had launched a new program to supply bread to 210 thousand people daily in Aleppo as part of a $220 million US aid.
Responding to a question whether the US was talking to Russia, Ambassador Ford said the US officials regularly held contacts with Russia, however, added, "it is not a secret that our positions are not identical."
"US is sending a delegation to Kuwait and we hope other countries send as well. US would welcome a large pledge from Russia," Ford said, referring to an international meeting in Kuwait to boost humanitarian aid for Syrian people.
