Moscow, Apr 6 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Russia has contributed $1 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to finance its humanitarian operation in Syria, Russia's foreign ministry said.
"During the entire crisis in Syria, Russia has been supporting the ICRC's active efforts in providing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population," the ministry said in a statement.
About 70,000 people have died in Syria since the start of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011, according to UN estimates.
Moscow has repeatedly said that it has no interest in seeing Assad remain in power, but that it is concerned that unilateral sanctions leading to his downfall could create a power vacuum and lead to more violence.