Brussels, 16/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Concerned by the worsening humanitarian situation in Syria, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva called on Wednesday 16 January for increased commitment on the part of the international community.
“I am appalled by the deteriorating situation in Syria and its effect on the suffering people of that country. Over the past weeks, fighting has increased and the conflict is spreading even further. Prices of basic commodities like bread and fuel have sky-rocketed. Bad weather, including torrential rain, snow and freezing temperatures, is taking a terrible toll on the two million displaced people in Syria and on the 623,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries. It is crucial in this corroding situation that the international community stays strong in its commitment and that it continues to give generously to assist the growing tide of desperate Syrians”, the commissioner said.
Georgieva pledged that the EU - the largest donor, with more than €358.5 million in humanitarian aid made available in response to the crisis in Syria and the neighbour countries - will continue its aid and will make efforts to open up more paths to channel aid into the heart of the country, where needs are the most desperate. She repeated her calls to the Syrian authorities to observe international humanitarian law. Her call coincided with the day of mourning decreed in Syria on Wednesday in tribute to the victims of the carnage the day before at the University of Aleppo, and with two suicide attacks carried out on the same day in Idleb. (AN/transl.fl)