Qatar and Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday a joint initiative with the United Nations Development Program to provide $89 million in support to Syria to help sustain essential public services.

Axar.az reports, citing Reuters, the three-month package, funded by the Qatar Fund for Development and the Saudi Fund for Development, aims to ensure the continuity of essential public services by helping cover part of the salaries of government employees, the statement added.

That followed an April contribution by both Gulf states to settle about $15 million in Syria’s outstanding arrears to the World Bank.