Syria: ‘Operating space for humanitarian relief is shrinking’

hildren collect water at the Al-Riad shelter, Aleppo, Syria

The top United Nations relief official said he remains extremely concerned about the welfare of civilians across Syria, who he said continue to face “horrific deprivation and violence,” particularly those trapped in besieged areas.
Briefing the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria on Friday, especially on critical access issues, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’Brien said he is concerned about people trapped in the towns of Mare’a and Sheikh Issa, as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) forces advance, and for the people in eastern Aleppo, and is “appalled” at the mortar attack on the Mseifra camp for internally displaced people in Dar’aa Governorate that occurred this past weekend.
“I told the Council that the operating space for humanitarian actors is shrinking as violence and attacks across Syria increase; and that recent attacks are creating new humanitarian emergencies and compounding the challenges in existing emergency areas,” Mr. O’Brien said after consultations with the body.
He also warned members of the Council that attacks on medical facilities and health personnel have continued in the past few days, despite the recent resolution passed by the Council, and despite the expressions of concern and commitments to action.
“This is unacceptable,” Mr. O’Brien emphasized.
He also reminded the Council that needs are the most acute in besieged locations.
“It is there that the parties to the conflict actively breach the basic laws of war. While humanitarians press for access, there remain areas where access continues to be denied,” he said.
During his briefing, Mr. O’Brien stressed that the only sustainable solution is a complete lifting of all sieges.
“Besiegement is not a natural or necessary consequence of conflict, it is a deliberate policy of parties, and one which can be undone if the political will to do so can be mustered,” he said.
Despite the escalating challenges to humanitarian operations, millions of Syrians in need are being reached through regular and cross-border assistance each month, Mr. O’Brien said, noting that he was able to report that just today a UN inter-agency convoy completed a delivery of desperately needed food for 45,000 civilians in Moadamiyah.
Source, UN News Center, 3 June 2016