Civilians face dramatically worsening conditions in Syria by UN News & agencies 9:11pm 23rd Jul, 2012   14-11-2012    Syria: much more needs to be done. (ICRC)    Nineteen months of relentless fighting have resulted in massive destruction, thousands of casualties and refugees, and ever-increasing numbers of civilians being deprived of basic necessities like food, water and medical care. Robert Mardini, the ICRC"s head of operations for the Near and Middle East, explains.    What are your main concerns about the situation in Syria?    The situation in Syria is steadily deteriorating, and the humanitarian needs never stop growing. Most urban centres and large portions of rural areas are directly affected by intense conflict. As the violence intensifies, particularly in urban settings, we are becoming increasingly concerned about the capacity of all parties to the conflict to adhere to basic principles of international humanitarian law, such as the distinction between civilians and civilian objects on the one hand and military objectives on the other, as well as the precautions taken in terms of means and methods of warfare..    Protracted armed violence in Syria has led growing numbers of people to flee their homes to other locations in Syria and to neighbouring countries, which gives a regional dimension to the humanitarian consequences of this conflict.    In such an environment, our biggest challenge is to reach the areas where needs are most acute. These areas are where the most intense fighting is taking place.    Can you give an idea of the current humanitarian needs?    It is very difficult to obtain credible figures about the scale of the needs in Syria or even the numbers of displaced people, for example. However, it is clear that large numbers of victims are getting little help because the deteriorating security situation makes it very difficult to reach them. Having already helped more than a million people this year, we expect that by the end of the year this figure will reach at least one and a half million.    Together with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, we are doing our best to reach those in need. On 3 November, for instance, the two organizations entered the besieged area of the Old City of Homs, and delivered much-needed assistance to hundreds of civilians who have been stranded there for the last four months. This mission was the result of the ICRC"s continuous efforts to talk to all parties involved in the conflict and its insistence on the neutral, impartial and independent nature of our activities. Getting into the Old City of Homs was complex, and we were negotiating on the front lines until the very last minute.    What are the ICRC’s priorities in Syria now?    We continue to talk with all those involved in the fighting to try to secure support for our neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian activities. The security of our staff and their ability to reach the areas hardest hit by violence are paramount. Armed confrontations have had a particularly severe effect on the populations of Homs, Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Deir Ez-Zor, Damascus and Rural Damascus. We are focusing on enhancing our field presence together with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.    Recent missions to the governorate of Homs enabled us to reach hundreds of civilians as well as hospitals and other health-care facilities. While this is certainly a positive development, much more needs to be done. We have to return to the Old City of Homs to provide continuous support to the civilians there. Across Syria, and particularly in the north of the country, there are many places where civilians live in precarious conditions, without access to medical help, food and other basic necessities.    Emergency Relief Coordinator’s key messages on Syria 25 October 2012 - UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.    Key Messages    As the crisis deepens in Syria, I am extremely concerned for the up to 3 million people who are affected by the conflict and need help. Syrians continue fleeing their homes to safer areas and at least 1.2 million people have taken shelter in public buildings, parks and with host families. Humanitarian needs are growing and will keep growing as fighting continues. Targeting of medical facilities and staff has left thousands without access to health care and education, and, as the winter approaches, families will struggle to survive without essential clothing, adequate shelter and heating.    All parties engaged in this conflict must do more to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law. It is ordinary women, men and children that are caught up in the brutal violence and who suffer from the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons like cluster munitions. There are particularly horrific reports of the testimonies from children. I call on all parties to stop targeting civilians and to ensure that humanitarian organizations can provide assistance quickly, neutrally and impartially.    In Syria, the United Nations and humanitarian partners have managed to scale up and reach areas where people need help, despite the immense security challenges. In September WFP dispatched food for 1.5 million people and WHO delivered health assistance to 60,000 people including emergency care for the wounded, diarrhoea treatment and safe blood kits. UNHCR has helped nearly 190,000 people get essential household items, while UNICEF has helped 50,000 children with educational and psychosocial support. We are expanding our field presence and network of partners to reach even more people.    More than 350,000 people have left Syria since the beginning of the conflict, and thousands are fleeing across borders every day. UNHCR estimates that this number is likely to rise to 710,000 by the end of the year. Many people are reluctant to register as they worry about the safety of family members still inside Syria. At least three-quarters of the refugees are vulnerable women and children. I thank neighbouring countries for continuing to keep their borders open, and remind the international community that we must help the refugees from other countries - Palestinian, Iraqi, Somali and others - who are also caught up in the crisis.    The fighting must stop before more lives are needlessly lost. While the humanitarian operation is helping large numbers of people in many areas, it is hindered by lack of funding as well as insecurity and violence. We need more resources to be able to help more people.    Humanitarian work is done on the basis of impartiality and neutrality. The only aim is to save lives and protect the vulnerable. These principles must be respected and it is vital that humanitarian aid remains free of any political agenda.    31 Aug 2012    Civilians face dramatically worsening conditions in Syria. (Reuters)    Syrian civilians living conditions are worsening dramatically, as it becomes harder to obtain food and escape fighting which caused a record death toll of 1,600 in the past week, aid agencies said on Friday.    The International Committee of the Red Cross, whose 50 aid workers in Syria are confined to Damascus because of the lack of security, has been unable to send out convoys with supplies for the past two weeks, ICRC spokesman Hicham Hassan said.    "The humanitarian situation in many parts of Syria is currently edging towards irreversible deterioration. Assisting the fast-growing number of needy people is a top priority," the ICRC said in a statement.    Tens of thousands of civilians forced to flee fighting have been displaced in recent weeks and most are completely dependent on assistance, it said.    "People suffer every day. Many have lost their jobs, others their breadwinner. It is difficult to meet even basic food needs and to obtain other essentials," the ICRC said.    Marianne Gasser, head of the ICRC delegation in Syria, said that fighting in the capital Damascus had escalated relentlessly since mid-July. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent is still delivering aid to displaced in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Idlib and elsewhere.    "People fear for their lives every minute of the day," she said.    Increasing numbers of injured are succumbing to their wounds, unable to get medical care due to the conflict or lack of medical supplies or health services, the ICRC said.    "Health care facilities that are still functioning are finding it more and more difficult to cope with the numbers of injured patients," it said.    An estimated 1.2 million people are uprooted within Syria, including 150,000 in Damascus and surrounding areas, according to the United Nations.    "Syria witnessed in the past week an escalation of violence particularly in Damascus. A record death toll of 1,600 persons was reported, including children," Patrick McCormick of the U.N. Children"s Fund (UNICEF) told a news briefing in Geneva, citing a U.N. document.    Nearly 229,000 Syrian refugees have fled abroad during the 17-month-old conflict so far, crossing into four neighbouring countries (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey) - a jump of 100,000 in the past month alone, the U.N. refugee agency said on Friday.    "Across the region we are continuing to see a steady rise in the numbers of people leaving Syria. We"ve seen an increase particularly in Lebanon"s Bekaa Valley over the last week," said Adrian Edwards, spokesman of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).    "Three thousand people a day coming across the borders into other countries is a very, very significant refugee crisis," he said.    "UNICEF is deeply concerned that in Syria and surrounding regions we may be or are looking at one of the biggest humanitarian emergencies in the last decade," UNICEF"s McCormick said, citing major challenges in providing shelter, clean water and sanitation.    "Obviously, we can"t tackle that emergency in the way that we"d like until there is a political solution," he added.    23 July 2012    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced concern about the possible use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict and stressed the need for the international community to keep a close eye on the situation.    “It would be reprehensible if anybody in Syria is contemplating use of such weapons of mass destruction, like chemical weapons,” Mr. Ban told reporters in Belgrade, Serbia, where he is on an official visit.    “I sincerely hope that the international community keeps an eye on this so that […] no such things happen,” he stated, while also adding that he was not able to verify that the Middle Eastern country has a “considerable amount” of chemical weapons.    He also noted, with concern, that Syria is not a party to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The OPCW is the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which aims to aims to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons by States Parties.    The Syrian Government reportedly said today that it will use its chemical and biological weapons against foreign attack, while adding that it would not use them against its own citizens.    Many thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and tens of thousands displaced since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began some 16 months ago.    Mr. Ban said the United Nations is closely coordinating and consulting with all of the parties concerned, and that he will be discussing the issue of the weapons with his counter-part at the League of Arab States, Nabil Elaraby.    Meanwhile, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, and the UN Military Adviser, General Babacar Gaye, are leaving today for Syria, where they will assess the situation on the ground.    Gen. Gaye will take part in the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) for the next month, following the departure of General Robert Mood, the Chief Observer and head of Mission.    UNSMIS has been tasked by the Security Council with monitoring the cessation of violence in Syria, as well as monitoring and supporting the full implementation of the six-point peace plan put forward by the Joint Special Envoy for the UN and the Arab League for the Syrian Crisis, Kofi Annan.    That plan calls for an end to violence, access for humanitarian agencies to provide relief to those in need, the release of detainees, the start of inclusive political dialogue, and unrestricted access to the country for the international media.    “I’m urging again, all the parties – all the Syrian Government forces and opposition forces – they must stop fighting. They must stop using violent means in addressing the situation,” said Mr. Ban, stressing the need to exert all possible efforts to help the Syrian people overcome the crisis. Visit the related web page
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