BEIJING, March 1 (Xinhuanet) -- US Secretary of State, John Kerry, has announced that the Obama administration will provide the n opposition with an additional 60 million US dollars in "non-lethal assistance" including food and medical supplies.

Washington has already provided over 380 million dollars in humanitarian aid to Syria’s population, and 54 million in communications equipment, medical supplies and other non-lethal assistance to Syria’s political opposition.

John Kerry said, "I’m proud to announce that the of America will be providing an additional 60 million dollars immediately in non-lethal assistance to support the coalition in its operational needs. This funding will allow the opposition to reach out and help the local councils to be able to rebuild in their liberated areas of Syria, so that they can provide basic services to people who often lack access today to medical care, to food, to sanitation."

Kerry made the announcement on Thursday, at an international conference on Syria in Rome. During the conference, European and Arab nations also signalled their intention to provide fresh assistance to the opposition, in order to increase pressure on President Bashar Assad to step down. A joint statement said they have agreed on "the need to change the balance of power on the ground."

(Source: CNTV.cn)