ISTANBUL, Turkey, Nov. 22 (UPI) — Vice President Joe Biden announced Saturday the United States will send $135 million more in humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians.

He was speaking at a news conference in Istanbul during a trip to visit Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, according to the Wall Street Journal.

He also said the U.S. has already sent over $3 billion in aid to the country since conflicts arose in 2011. Turkey has taken in roughly 1.6 million refugees from Syria.

Roughly 300 turkish students and citizens protested the vice president’s visit, and they held signs that said: “Yankee Go Home!” and “Biden get out. This country is ours.” Though the protesters were not in view of the vice president.

It is estimated almost 200,000 people have died since the civil war began in Syria.