Syria: Humanitarian crisis is longstanding - OCHA Briefing | United Nations

Briefing by Ramesh Rajasingham, Director, Coordination Division, Head and Representative of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva (OCHA), on the humanitarian situation in Syria. Briefing from Geneva, the Director of Coordination Division at OCHA, Ramesh Rajasingham said, “Syria’s humanitarian crisis is longstanding, but it is not static,” and added that “developments on the ground continue to add to or exacerbate people’s needs.” Rajasingham said, “clashes in parts of Aleppo earlier this month caused civilian casualties and temporarily displaced some families,” and while the ceasefire in As-Sweida has largely held, “the fragile and unpredictable security environment continues to affect the movement of people and goods,” which “has led to shortages and high prices for critical items like fuel and bread; hampered the restoration of critical services including healthcare and water; and prevented displaced people from returning to their homes.” The humanitarian official said, “we need more funding for critical humanitarian aid. Our response plan for Syria remains only 19 percent funded, one of the lowest levels among our biggest appeals.” He said, “this month, water trucking services for IDPs in parts of Ar-Raqqa were suspended, and trucking in Al-Hasakeh will be curtailed next month without more resources. The World Food Programme warns that without additional funding they will have to scale back their assistance by January. Over 340 health facilities have suspended services, reducing access to healthcare and medicine for more than 7 million people.”


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