Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Licence needed for work use Learn More

World Video | Defence | Foreign Affairs | Natural Events | Trade | NZ in World News | NZ National News Video | NZ Regional News | Search

 

Conference Next Month for Syria Humanitarian Effort

Ban to Chair High-Level Donor Conference Next Month for Syria Humanitarian Effort

New York, Dec 28 2012 5:00PM Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will chair a high-level conference next month to raise funds to alleviate the worsening plight of millions of Syrians affected by the ongoing conflict.

The conference, to be held on 30 January in Kuwait, follows a $1.5 billion appealed launched last week by the United Nations and its partners, who have been hampered in their efforts to carry out relief activities due to lack of funds.

The pledging conference is “a timely and much-needed opportunity to address the funding gap,” said a <"http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=6532">statement issued today by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson. “The Secretary-General urges all Member States to be generous in their pledges and is thankful to those who continue to support the humanitarian efforts.”

The bulk of the appeal – $1 billion – is to support refugees fleeing Syria to Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and Egypt. It is based on planning estimates that up to a million Syrian refugees will need help during the first half of next year.

Another $519 million will be needed to support an estimated four million people inside Syria who need urgent humanitarian assistance, including an estimated two million internally displaced persons.

This winter, many families are struggling to keep warm, without adequate shelter, warm clothes and heating fuel, the statement noted, adding that children make up more than 50 per cent of the civilians affected by the crisis.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

At least 20,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Syria since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in early 2011. Recent months have witnessed an escalation in the conflict, which is now in its 22nd month.

Meanwhile, the Joint Special Representative of the UN and the League of Arab States for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, will travel to Moscow to meet with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov tomorrow.

This is the latest in a series of meetings in the region and elsewhere – including with Mr. al-Assad in Damascus earlier this week – held by the Joint Special Representative as part of his efforts to bring about a negotiated, political solution to end the fighting in Syria.
Dec 28 2012 5:00PM

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.