NZ adds $1.5m to help Syria

New Zealand will give a further

$1.5 million in humanitarian aid to war-torn Syria.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced the further assistance yesterday, as the region of Eastern Ghouta is hammered by what’s been described as ‘‘a relentless indiscriminate campaign’’.

This latest contribution brings New Zealand’s total humanitarian funding for the Syrian crisis to

$23.5m since 2011.

The funding would be delivered via the International Committee of the Red Cross, which would help provide food supplies, access to water and sanitation, and medical support to hospitals and health centres in Syria.

‘‘The situation for civilians in Syria remains dire, with more than 13 million people requiring humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs,’’ Peters said.

‘‘The public infrastructure in Syria has been devastated. More than half the medical clinics and one in three schools have been destroyed. Access to safe drinking water is limited for much of the population.’’

Yesterday marked the third day in a row of bombings in Eastern Ghouta.

United Nations reports showed there had been at least 346 civilian deaths and 878 injuries, mostly from air strikes on residential areas, since the Syrian Government and its allies escalated an offensive against the rebel-held enclave at the start of the month.

Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations described the three-day bombing campaign as ‘‘relentless’’ and ‘‘indiscriminate’’.

It said a total of 13 hospitals and humanitarian facilities were also targeted, killing a nurse and leaving thousands in a catastrophic situation.