Brussels, 23/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - Given the inability of the international community to stop the carnage in Syria, the European Parliament - alarmed by the slaughter and the gravity of the humanitarian crisis - called on the Syrian authorities, on Thursday 23 May, to authorise the access of humanitarian aid, and called on the EU (the biggest donor in this crisis, providing €600 million), for an urgent regional action plan. The plan would come to the aid of Syrian refugees who number between 1.5 to 2 million in the neighbouring countries and in North Africa.
The resolution adopted in plenary calls on the European Commission to present immediately “a complete aid package to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and in the neighbouring countries”. This action plan would involve increasing humanitarian aid, supporting host countries so as to help them strengthen local communities, and increasing capacity and infrastructure - as well as sending macro-financial aid to Lebanon and Jordan.
“While we have been unable to end the violence thus far, we must do what we can to deal with the humanitarian crisis. These refugees, mostly women and children, need basic help: food, water, shelter, medicine. Girls and women are specifically vulnerable. We receive horrible reports of rape, and also the selling or marrying off of young girls”, said Marietje Schaake (ALDE, Netherlands), who initiated this resolution.
The MEPs pay tribute to the generosity of Syria's neighbouring countries which have provided shelter and humanitarian aid to refugee families, but MEPs fear a destabilisation of the whole region because these countries are reaching saturation point in their hosting capacity. The MEPS also hail the humanitarian aid brought by the EU. They believe the EU should take responsible measures to face the challenge of a possible influx of refugees to its member states. The MEPs also believe that the EU should support the establishment of safe havens along the border between Turkey and Syria, and should guarantee the creation of humanitarian corridors by the international community. The MEPs reiterate that the key to resolving the conflict lies in the political mechanisms aiming to facilitate the political process led by the Syrians.
According to the UNHCR, 7 million Syrians are dependent on aid, 3.1 million children are affected by the civil war, and the number of displaced persons inside the country was calculated at 4.25 million on 6 May 2013 - out of a total population of 21.4 million. In March, the UN estimated that 80,000 had lost their lives, mostly civilians - a figure that has most definitely increased since then. (AN/transl.fl)