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UN accuses Syria of impeding aid deliveries

By WTOP Staff

EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. humanitarian chief accused the Syrian government Thursday of imposing “arbitrary restrictions and obstructions” on the delivery of aid and banning life-saving medical supplies from shipments to opposition-held areas.

Valerie Amos told the U.N. Security Council that “some opposition groups have also attacked, threatened and refused to cooperate with humanitarian workers.”

In a grim assessment, she said, “Violence and attacks on civilians by all parties to the conflict and human rights abuses continue unabated, with devastating consequences for those affected.”

Amos said the number of Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance has increased from one million in 2011 to 10.8 million, jumping 1.5 million in just the last six months. That includes 4.7 million in hard-to-reach areas.

“Four years into this war, we are unable to sustainably reach nearly half of those identified as being in the direst need,” Amos said.

She strongly criticized new procedures instituted by the Syrian government for sealing trucks carrying aid, new procedures for the delivery of assistance to hard-to-reach areas and additional requirements involving distribution and loading. This meant one million people didn’t get food in May and only 50 percent of the planned food aid was dispatched in June, she said.

“I cannot describe to the council the frustration felt by experienced aid workers who have to spend endless hours trying to get agreement for aid deliveries as people’s lives hang in the balance,” Amos said. “The focus of the government of Syria remains on controlling the work of the U.N. and its partners. Our focus remains on the people who so desperately need our help.”

She urged the Security Council to facilitate cross-border delivery of aid using “neutral monitors” through several border crossings in Turkey, Jordan and Iraq which could reach approximately 1.3 million people.

The council approved a resolution in February demanding that all sides in the Syrian conflict allow immediate access for aid, and key members have been negotiating a new humanitarian resolution.

Australia’s U.N. Ambassador Gary Quinlan said he expects a draft resolution to be circulated to all 15 council members “very quickly,” but whether it is acceptable to Russia, Syria’s closest ally, remains to be seen.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin has proposed a method for cross-border access. But Quinlan said “it will not work because the Syrian government wants to impose a whole range of highly restrictive conditions on the operation, which will take us backwards.”

Syria’s U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari denounced Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s monthly report on Syria’s humanitarian situation, saying it contained “grave falsehoods and gaps.” He said the number of needy Syrians was “exaggerated” and “inaccurate” but provided no figures.

Ja’afari blamed the humanitarian situation on “the emergence and escalation of terrorism in Syria” and said Ban’s report should have blamed “the states supporting terrorism in Syria, including Israel, Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.” He said the government is committed to take measures to alleviate “the humanitarian burden of our people,” as long as they comply with national laws and Syria’s sovereignty.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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