By Mark Smulian | 25 September 2013

Syria has become the largest ever recipient of UK aid in a humanitarian crisis following an extra £100m donation from the British government.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the money would allow further essential supplies such as food, water and medicine to reach Syrian people in dire need, and help prevent an entire generation being lost to the conflict.

The latest donation brings the UK’s response to the Syrian crisis to £500m.

Speaking at a meeting hosted by the European Union and Jordan at the United Nations General Assembly, Clegg said: ‘The need for this funding is clear. Millions of people find themselves in an absolutely appalling humanitarian situation, through no fault of their own.

‘The UK has been leading the charge to alleviate suffering through the Syria UN appeals. But there’s a huge gap in what’s needed. I’ve been pushing other countries at the UN General Assembly to help meet the shortfall.’

Potential uses for the latest UK donation include: food for 87,000 people and access to clean water for 295,000 people; shelter for more than 118,500 people; and medical consultations for 80,000 people.

Clegg said the crisis in Syria was such that more than 100,000 people have been killed and a Syrian becomes a refugee every 15 seconds, at least half of them aged under 18.

UK International Development Secretary Justine Greening earlier launched a £30m initiative to provide Syrian children with trauma counselling and education.