UN: 16.7 million people in Syria need humanitarian aid
It has been 13 years since the start of the civil war in Syria. During this period, more than 306 thousand Syrians died, more than 5 million people sought refuge in neighboring countries, and 7 million people became internal refugees. Currently, 16.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Currently, 16.7 million people in Syria need humanitarian assistance. This was stated in the statement of Geir Pedersen, the special representative of the UN Secretary General on Syria, on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the beginning of the armed conflict in Syria, Anadolu reported.
Pedersen said that a political solution to the crisis has not yet been reached, and tensions in the region are making the situation even more tragic.
"The Syrian people have long suffered from unspoken violence and destruction that affects all sectors of society. The humanitarian crisis in Syria continues to deepen, with 16.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. This is the highest indicator since the beginning of the conflict," he said.
The Special Representative added that more than 5 million Syrian refugees have found refuge in neighboring countries, and more than 7 million people have left their homes inside the country.
Pedersen called on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease violence, fulfill their obligations to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and immediately and unconditionally release those arbitrarily detained.
He also called on the international community to join forces and exert political pressure to take confidence-building measures, resume the work of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, and comprehensively discuss all existing issues in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
According to the 2022 data of the UN Human Rights Office, 306,887 civilians were killed in Syria between March 1, 2011 and March 31, 2021.
