Lives of Syrian civilians face ‘irreversible damage’ – UN official
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Chronic under-funding of the international effort results in “irreversible damage” to Syrians’ lives, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya said on Monday.
Msuya made her words in a briefing to the UN Security Council on the future of a whole Syrian generation.
She added, “Lack of funding” has severe consequences such as “more drop-outs from school, higher malnutrition rates, and less protection interventions.”
She went further saying, “If we do not act now, a generation of Syrian children might be lost.”
Speaking of access to needs, Msuya noted that parties to the conflict in Syria have to “facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilians in need.”
Additionally, she called on them tospare the Syrians throughout their military operations.
She highlighted the “uptick in violence” that affects different parts of Syria, including Hawl Camp where at least 26 murders have been reported, and sexual abuse cases occur.
She called for member states to fulfil “their responsibility to repatriate their citizens through all available routes.”
Hawl Camp, 45 km east of the city of Hasakah, is a house for 55.829 individuals, including 28.725 Iraqis, 18.850 Syrians and 8.254 of foreign nationalities, according to the latest statistics obtained by North Press.
The camp witnesses murders with different methods, most notably firearms. The management of the camp fears that the latest Turkish threats of invading areas in northern Syria would pave the way for ISIS to reorganize its ranks; North Press cited a statement by the management as saying.
She stressed that women and girls will face “greater risk.”
She expressed her great concern over increase in violence in northern Syria, including in the northern Aleppo countryside and northeast Syria.
“As we hear renewed statements and read reports about preparations for a possible military operation in northern Syria, displacement is already happening,” Msuya said.
She condemned the Turkish drone attack on August 18 on an educational centre affiliated to the United Nations, killing four girls and wounding 11 others.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently announced plans to carry out another major military cross-border incursion into northern Syria. Erdogan specified his targets in the two northern Syrian cities of Manbij and Tel Rifaat.
On July 1, Erdogan said that Ankara’s new military operation in northern Syria could begin at any moment.
“The time has come to clear these lands from the terrorist organizations,” Erdogan threatened during Tehran Summit.
Tehran Summit, on July 19, brought together presidents of each of Iran, Russia and Turkey with the Syrian issue and Turkish threats on the top of its agenda.
Msuya, in her briefing, mentioned the government attack on a market in the city of al-Bab on 19 August in which 13 civilians were killed, including four boys and one girl.
Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator called for respecting ”the rules of war and accountability for serious violations.”