Brussels, 21/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - Given the gravity of the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the fact that there is no guarantee with regard to the outcome of the Geneva II peace conference scheduled for 22 January, humanitarian aid to the victims in Syria and support of the neighbouring country communities taking in refugees is a priority, the 28 EU foreign ministers underlined in Brussels on 20 January.
After the Foreign Affairs Council, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton sounded a note of caution, saying: “We wish Lakhdar Brahimi every possible success in his efforts” and, in the meantime, “we are doing everything we can for humanitarian aid”.
After that, within the high-level group on humanitarian challenges created by the UN to ensure follow-up of the donors' conference for Syria, Kuwait II held on 15 January this year, at which the EU and its member states pledged €550 million, the EU will continue to urge for progress in the implementation of commitments taken by its partners.
“Humanitarian aid and access cannot, and should not, be taken hostage of military tactics and political negotiations”, the Council underlines in its conclusions. The EU therefore calls on all parties to the conflict - and in particular on the Syrian government - to apply the provisions of the Security Council's presidential declaration of 2 October and, given the magnitude and the unprecedented nature of the crisis, it also calls for a humanitarian resolution of the Security Council. The EU urges all parties to the conflict - notably the government in Damascus - to allow immediate humanitarian access to all persons requiring assistance. In the same way, it calls on the Syrian regime and encourages the neighbouring countries to facilitate access to international humanitarian organisations.
Speaking on 20 January on the sidelines of the EU-UN humanitarian conference on the Central African Republic, Valerie Amos, who coordinates United Nations emergency assistance (OCHA), said she was “extremely pleased” by the Kuwait II conference. She added: “For the year, needs are estimated at $6.5 billion. We have launched an appeal for $1.5 billion in funding and we have harvested between $2.2 and 2.4 billion in commitments. Syria and the neighbouring countries will remain at the top of the agenda for the UN” (our translation). The Syrian crisis has caused 2.3 million people to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, displaced 6.5 million persons in the country and resulted in some 130,000 fatalities, according to United Nations estimates. (AN/transl.jl)