The United Nations pleads and warns: 15 million Syrians need assistance
The UN has said that after the 12-year war in Syria, some 15.3 million people – nearly 70% of the population – are in need of humanitarian aid.
“Speaking to the Security Council yesterday, Director of Operations of the UN Humanitarian Office (OCHA) Edim Wosorno appealed for US$5.4 billion to help more than 14 million people in Syria, less than 10 per cent of which has been funded.”
The February earthquake has exacerbated crises in the opposition-controlled northwest, Wosorno said, adding that the Syrian people are “increasingly reliant on humanitarian aid, as basic services and vital infrastructure are on the verge of collapse.”
“Wosorno urged to make generous pledges and quickly release the money at a conference hosted by the European Union in Brussels on 14-15 June.”
“More than ever in the past 12 years, Syrians need the support of the international community,” she said.
She said the need for continued humanitarian access to northwest Syria had become even more critical after the earthquake.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a 12-month extension of the UN mandate after its expiration in July, she said, noting that aid is “indispensable” and “a matter of life and death for millions of people in the region.”
The UN World Food Program (WFP) has warned that without additional funds, 2.5 million people are at risk of losing food or cash assistance as of July
