UNHCR: Assistance distributed in Cooperation with Syrian Government

 

 

 

DAMASCUS, (ST)_ The deal recently sealed between the Local Administration Ministry and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) proves the Syrian government’s readiness to strengthen partnership in a calculated way.

This partnership aims to help alleviate the effects of the current crisis on citizens in Syria.

According remarks made by  Omar Ibrahim Ghalawanji, Local Administration Minister, the government allocated S.P 2 billion in 2012 as compensations to be distributed to the affected citizens all over Syria.

“While S.P 30 billion sum has been allocated for 2013 for reconstruction and compensating citizens for their damaged properties,” said the minister.

He said that UNHCR can help rehabilitate the homes of displaced families, noting that a UNHCR team has visited Sweida and Damascus Countryside and has started to rehabilitate temporary shelters.

Coordination

For his part, the UNCR Regional Director in the Middle East, Yakoub al-Hillo, stressed that assistance cannot be distributed without the approval and supervision of the Syrian government.

“Coordination between the Syrian government and international organization is significant to deliver assistance correctly and fairly to those in need,” said al-Hillo.

UNHCR has more than 350 staff in three offices across Syria and is part of the joint United Nations humanitarian response. The agency is at the half-way point in a large-scale operation to distribute non-food aid packages to 500,000 people by the end of this year.

 Donations

Last week, UNHCR donated 10 tractors plus 10 water tankers to al-Hasaka city to provide the displaced families with drinking water.

“This donation comes within the framework of cooperation between the international organization and the Syrian government to meet the displaced families’ needs,” said al-Hilo. 

For his part, al-Hasaka Governor, Khedr al-Hussein, asserted the governorate is doing its best to provide the displaced families with all basic needs.

SARC donations

Meanwhile, Director of al-Hasaka Education Department, Mohammad al-Hussein, said: “Education Ministry distributed 23000 school bags and stationeries to the students”.

He noted that these bags and stationeries are donated by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC).

In Daraa

In Daraa, the Governor, Mohammad Khaled al-Hannous, tackled with Deputy Director of the Coordination at the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Philippe Lazzarini, the situation in Daraa governorate and the needs of citizens affected by the armed terrorist groups’ acts.

According to SANA, talks dealt with the means of delivering aid to the displaced families through the international organizations and the SARC.

 al-Hannous briefed the delegation on the terrorist acts which damaged various sectors in the governorate, stressing the governorate is ready to cooperate with the humanitarian organizations through offering all facilities.

Reconciliation

On the other hand, al-Hannous noted that popular meetings for national reconciliation are currently being held by the government.

“Besides, the government is working on releasing those who were not involved in bloodshed after they turn in their weapons and pledge commitment to security in Syria,” the governor said.

Ahmad al-Masalmeh, Head of the SARC branch in Daraa, said: “Since the beginning of the school year, the branch has provided the displaced families in Daraa with about 49040 food baskets and 9650 health baskets”.

Basma Qaddour