UK to provide chemical weapons protective equipment to Syrian dissidents

The British government has decided to gift £656,800 worth of chemical weapons protective equipment to the Syrian National Coalition. "We plan to equip the Supreme Military Council of the Syrian National Coalition, which the UK recognises as the sole legitimate representatives of the Syrian people with 5,000 escape hoods, nerve-agent pre-treatment tablets (NAPs) and chemical weapons detector paper," British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Tuesday.  Hague said the protracted Syria crisis kept growing and noted, "We have to be prepared to do more to save lives. There is evidence of attacks using chemical weapons in Syria -- including sarin. We believe that the use of chemical weapons is sanctioned and ordered by the Assad regime." "Escape hoods protect against sarin gas for approximately 20 minutes, allowing a person to move away from an affected area but not enabling them to continue to fight. Pre-treatment with NAPs gives a person who is exposed to a nerve agent (including sarin) a greater chance of reaching a place where atropine can be administered under medical supervision", said Hague.

"Chemical weapons detector paper enables the basic detection of chemical weapons agents. The capability to detect quickly whether chemical weapons agents are present will inform decisions on whether or not to remain in an area and so potentially save lives."

Britain made a £348 million worth of humanitarian aid to the country yet they haven't decided to support the Syrian opposition with arms.

The parliament has to approve the arming of Syrian opposition. In the case of a possible decision of the government, the issue will be taken to the parliament. However, various British MPs are known as not welcoming the armament of Syrian dissident groups as it may deepen the crisis in the country.