IRC calls for ‘more funding’ to address humanitarian needs in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The International Rescue Committee (IRC) called on the international community to provide more funding for Syria, saying it is “is vital to prevent humanitarian needs in Syria from spiraling further out of control.”
The IRC’s call was made as European countries are set to convene in Brussels today and tomorrow, June 14-15, to discuss supporting Syria and the region, as well as finding a political solution for the Syrian crisis in line with UN Resolution 2254.
The 12-year-old civil war and February 2023 earthquakes have left more than 15 million people in need of humanitarian aid and 90 percent of Syrians living below the poverty line, according to the UN. The Hanke 2022 Annual Misery Index listed Syria as the third most miserable country in the world, spurred by soaring inflation and acute unemployment, among other things.
Harlem Desir, IRC Senior Vice President, Europe, said it is vital for the EU to provide more funding as there is “an urgent need to adequately address the continued humanitarian catastrophe in the country – the response for which is currently less than half funded.”
Tanya Evans, the IRC’s Country Director in Syria, voiced concerns about the dire living and economic conditions and encouraged the international community to “not only look to guarantee continued assistance, but also work to empower those affected to increase their own resilience and agency.”
Echoing this statement, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) urged, earlier today, immediate action to address the critical situation faced by the people in Syria.
“The international community must confront the harsh reality that the current situation in Syria is untenable, and failure to act will have dire consequences for all those involved and hinder any prospects for sustainable recovery,” said Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRC’s regional director for the Near and Middle East.