Shortly after handing the Syrian embassy in Doha over to the opposition last week, Qatar sent some $100 million in aid to the group’s humanitarian arm, the Peninsula reports.

Meanwhile, Qatar has criticized a recent decision made by the European Union to extend an arms embargo on Syria. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Prime Minister Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani said, as quoted by the Guardian:

“I am astonished at this decision. The rebels only want to be able to defend themselves. At the present time this is the wrong decision. It will only prolong the crisis.”

However, during a visit to Qatar this week, British Foreign Secretary William Hague promised the country would amend the arms embargo so that it could send more “practical support” to the Syrian National Coalition:

“We will send other equipment that will help them in this situation. I don’t think any option at all should be ruled out to save the lives of the Syrian people,” Hague said on Al Jazeera.

UN agencies have longed warned of a growing humanitarian crisis in Syria, with new estimates showing that some four million people there are in need of aid.

Thoughts?

Credit: Photo of Syrian aid for illustrative purposes only by Oxfam International