OTTAWA

Canada is sending $6 million in humanitarian aid to Syria.

International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda made the announcement Monday, calling the situation in the Middle East country "increasingly horrifying."

The funds, slated for food, clean water, sanitation facilities and other emergency supplies, is on top of $1.5 million the federal government committed to humanitarian aid last month.

Aid organizations have gained only sporadic access to the hardest hit regions in Syria.

The feds aren't releasing the names of their partner aid organizations working in Syria because of the poor security situation there.

It's been almost a year since Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

The UN estimates more than 7,500 people have died since then, as the conflict grows increasingly violent.

The federal government says some three million civilians are affected by the conflict, and 750,000 are internally displaced.

Syrians are also seeking refuge in neighbouring countries such as Turkey.