US to supply Syrian opposition with protective clothing

The first group of assistance includes chemical weapons-related personal protective equipment (PPE) to international organizations, including the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, for the conduct of their operations, a statement from the White House said on Monday. Equipment will be supplied to Syrian opposition as well as international organizations and local health officers. "Today, the President signed a Presidential Determination exercising his authority to waive certain restrictions under the Arms Export Control Act. This action will allow the U.S. Government to provide or license, where appropriate, certain non-lethal assistance inside or related to Syria," said The White House office of the press secretary on Monday. The first group of assistance includes chemical weapons-related PPE to international organizations, including the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, for the conduct of their operations, the statement said. The second group includes chemical weapons-related life-saving assistance for organizations implementing Department of State or U.S. Agency for International Development programs to strengthen local Syrian health care providers’ ability to prepare for and respond to any use of chemical weapons while the third group consists of defensive chemical weapons-related training and personal protective equipment to select vetted members of the Syrian opposition, including the Supreme Military Council, to protect against the use of chemical weapons. The statement said the action was part of longstanding and ongoing efforts to provide life-saving chemical weapons-related assistance to people in need in Syria.