The Middle East Institute and IRD Present:Syria: Humanitarian Impact and the U.S. Response Featuring: Robert Ford, U.S. Ambassador to SyriaMark Bartolini, Director of the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, USAIDAlbert Cevallos, Acting Director of Democracy, Governance, & Community Development, IRDOpening Remarks by: Arthur B. Keyes, President and CEO, IRDModerated by: Amb. Deborah Jones Thursday, November 29, 20129:00am-10:30am St. Regis HotelAstor Ballroom923 16th Street, NWWashington D.C., 20005 The Middle East Institute and International Relief and Development are proud to host U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford, Mark Bartolini, Albert Cevallos, USAID's Mark Bartolini, and Albert Cevallos of IRD for a conversation on the humanitarian dimension of the Syrian crisis. As the situation in Syria deteriorates by the day, what can the United States Government, the U.N., and NGOs do to address the needs of Syrian refugees throughout the region? What are the specific challenges posed by the daily attacks on and displacement of Syrian citizens, and what more can and should the international community be doing in terms of providing assistance? Our esteemed panelists will examine these questions and offer suggestions on ways in which the U.S. and multilateral actors can offer humanitarian relief to Syrians affected by the conflict. Please join us for what promises to be a timely and engaging discussion.