OCHA Chief: The Syrians Offer the Greatest Part of Humanitarian Aids

DAMASCUS, (ST)_ “The Syrian people offer the greatest deal of  humanitarian operations in Syria through hosting  and  supporting displaced  families , due to the current situation and the Syrians are a  source of inspiration for all humanitarian organizations,” said the Director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs  (OCHA) John Ging ,
In a press conference held in Damascus on Monday, attended  by representatives of all  UN agencies and offices concerned with humanitarian aid Ging added that  “the Syrian government is directly involved in the provision of humanitarian aid and that public and social services that should increase with the accelerated  demand for it.”
He commended the efforts  made by  humanitarian organizations, especially  the  Syrian  organizations , foremost the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and their courage and commitment to deliver the aid,  with many of its workers  lost their lives for this purpose.”
He acknowledged that ” the sum estimated at USD  200 million offered by the UN is not enough and constitutes only 50%  of required  assistance,”  stressing that the UN focus is to contribute on the humanitarian aids  estimated at 590 million USD, only 50% of which was provided last year. A matter which raises  concern.”
He continued that  talks with the  Syrian government and all parties  concerned were “constructive and focused on the issues on how to  access to vulnerable areas  and that everyone in this country has a commitment to humanitarian law and principles to ensure access to people in need, wherever they are,” adding that this “commitment is being applied today.”
Replying  to a question about the situation in the visited  areas, Ging said : “We are very  satisfied as we noticed at all levels great awareness towards respect for humanitarian principles and everyone,  everywhere, get own needs ,” pointing out that ” the affected persons  interact with  the Syrian Arab Red Crescent which  is respected by all  and we are very proud to work with it .”
On the situation in rural Aleppo and Idleb, especially health conditions, the representative of the World Health Organization WHO  Richard Brennan said  that “there is full awareness of the volume  of vandalism done to the medical devices , hospitals and health centers,” noting that WHO  office in Syria, “works effectively with local authorities to distribute  health aid health in several areas.”
As for  the destruction of the universities and  schools  where the educational process was affected, UNRWA representative in Damascus Richard Wright   said  that the current events in Syria :” affected  the Palestinian refugees in the camps,   Syria  has been generosity hosting since  60 years, ” adding that many of them  were displaced, noting “the need to obtain sufficient funding to meet their needs.”
For his part,  the World Food Program (WFP) representative  David Katrod  noted the spontaneous response of  the Syrian  NGOs and private sector in Syria to secure aid for affected  people.
He underlined the importance to deliver aids to all affected persons and mobilize  the capacity of the NGOs especially the Syrian Red Crescent to this end, noting that  ” aids are delivered  up to about 5.1 million affected persons every month.”

T. Fateh