The U.N.’s appeal comes on the sidelines of 2-day Brussels Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region”
The United Nations (U.N.) has sought a financial aid of U.S. $ 10 billion from world donors to help people of Syria who continue to live amidst fear, hunger and poverty.
The U.N.’s appeal comes on the sidelines of 2-day Brussels Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region”. This is the 5th edition of the Conference which is being held on 29th-30th March, 2021. The Conference is Co-Chaired by European Union (E.U.) and U.N.
Of these U.S. $ 10 billion, U.S. $ 4.2 billion will be spent on humanitarian response inside Syria and U.S. $ 5.8 billion for refugees and their hosts in the Middle East.
Taking it to twitter, the official twitter handle of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) – U.N. Humanitarian tweeted,
After a decade of conflict, people in Syria deserve the right to hope for a better future.
— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) March 29, 2021
We are calling on the international community to step up: needs have never been higher. https://t.co/NRG9qwsVO4 #SyriaConf2021 pic.twitter.com/fb82c2rDOO
The Vice President of European Commission – Josep Borrell Fonteless tweeted,
The Syria conflict has now lasted 10 years.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) March 30, 2021
Today, the EU and @UN are co-hosting the #SyriaConf2021 to advance the peace process and finally put an end to the suffering, mobilise support to tackle urgent humanitarian needs of Syrians & push for a sustainable political solution. https://t.co/mKQU0dMRoC
Presently, 24 million Syrians are in immediate need of aid. The Syrian crisis dates back to 2011 when people took to streets against the President Bashar al-Assad’s regime for high unemployment, corruption and a lack of political freedom under. The demonstrations first started in the Southern city of Deraa where the Government used deadly force to crush the protest. The uprising spread to major parts of the country. The major unrest happened on March 15, 2011 in the cities of Damascus and Aleppo where protestors were handled brutally. With time, the unrest spread across the country and the crackdown intensified. Later several other countries and groups joined the conflict.
Iran and Russia have been supporting the Bashar al-Assad’s Government. Russia has also conducted airstrikes and other military operations since September 2015. The United States (U.S.) led international coalition, established in 2014 to counter Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) also carried out airstrikes against ISIL members in Syria. Turkey has also been supporting U.S. since 2016. This added to the woes and miseries of worn-torn Syria.
Speaking on the occasion, the U.N.’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator – Mark Lowcock said, “It has been 10 years of despair and disaster for Syrians. Now plummeting living conditions, economic decline and COVID-19 result in more hunger, malnutrition and disease. There is less fighting, but no peace dividend.”
Lowcock tweeted,
There has been a decade of death, destruction, displacement, disease, dread and despair in Syria.
— Mark Lowcock (@UNReliefChief) March 29, 2021
13.4 million people across the country need humanitarian aid: 20% more than last year.
Ahead of #SyriaConf2021, my briefing to the @UN Security Council:https://t.co/J4sGbX4IBT
Besides, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, an international humanitarian movement, has called on international donors to help rebuild Syria and to provide the basics for survival such as healthcare and water. U.S. has urged the U.N. Security Council to open more crossings on the Syria-Turkey border to get food and other help to people of Syria.
In an impassioned speech, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said world powers should be ashamed by their inaction and said the council should also “stop taking part in or making excuses for attacks” on hospitals and near the only authorised crossing point.
