Brussels, 06/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - A humanitarian plan for Syria, accepted by Damascus, is good but its implementation is even better. Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, is delighted that the Syrian authorities have finally agreed to authorise humanitarian workers access to the four provinces of the country, which have been hardest hit by the violence. Nonetheless, having learned the lessons of the regime's broken promises, the commissioner is calling for the UN negotiated agreement to be respected so that food, medicine and other first aid materials can effectively be sent to the Syrians who require assistance.
In a statement published on Tuesday 5 June, the commissioner expressed a categorical message: “The humanitarian situation in Syria has turned from bad to desperate and thousands of innocent civilians, including children, are paying a grievous price. A comprehensive humanitarian response plan negotiated by the UN has finally been agreed by the Government of Syria as announced today at the 3rd meeting of the Syrian Humanitarian Forum in Geneva. It is a positive but long overdue step. Let me be clear that I expect the Syrian government to fully cooperate and ensure the rapid implementation of the comprehensive humanitarian response plan. This is no more time to delay or reason to prevaricate. And once again I want to remind all parties of their responsibility that they must respect and protect the lives of civilians as well as to respect the work of humanitarian personnel and to facilitate their access to people in need.”
Under the terms of the agreement, the Syrian authorities will grant visas to humanitarian workers from nine UN agencies and seven NGOs, so that they can travel to the provinces of Daraa, Deir el-Zour, Homs and Idlib. (AN/transl.fl)