More than 9 million Syrians need aid, says UN

UNITED NATIONS // The United Nations estimates that around 9.3 million people in Syria or about 40 per cent of the population need humanitarian assistance, the UN humanitarian office said.

“The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to deteriorate rapidly and inexorably,” UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos told the UN Security Council behind closed doors, according to her spokeswoman Amanda Pitt.

“The number of people we estimate to be in need of humanitarian assistance in Syria has now risen to some 9.3 million,” Ms Pitt said, summarising Ms Amos’ remarks to the 15-nation council. “Of them, 6.5 million people are displaced from their homes, within the country.”

The population of Syria is about 23 million.

“Amos continues to press the council for their help and influence over those parties who can ensure the protection of civilians and civilian facilities; the safe passage of medical personnel and supplies; the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance; and can facilitate progress in expanding critical, life-saving relief operations,” Ms Pitt said.

The UN’s plea to the council follows the Syrian government’s promise on Monday to ensure delivery of vaccinations and humanitarian aid across the country, after an outbreak of polio in the Northeast and warnings of malnutrition in areas under military siege.

Twenty-two children in Deir El Zoor province bordering Iraq were left paralysed last month. The polio virus has been confirmed so far in 10 of them, and experts say it could spread quickly across the region.

Last month Ms Amos demanded stronger action by the Security Council to get desperately needed aid into Syria, where millions of people in need have not received any help for almost a year.

Syria said on Monday that it will work with international organisations to ensure that all children in the country, even those in rebel-held areas, will be vaccinated against polio following an outbreak of the crippling and highly communicable disease.

“We intend to vaccinate each Syrian child regardless of the area they are present in, whether it is a hot spot or a place where the Syrian Arab Army is present,” deputy foreign minister Faisal Mekdad said. “We promise that we will give opportunity to humanitarian organisations to reach every Syrian child.”

Mr Mekdad did not specify when the immunisation campaign would begin, or how those administering the vaccinations would reach rebel-held areas.

Violence and excessive red tape have slowed aid delivery to a trickle in Syria. More than 100,000 people have been killed in the civil war and millions have fled the country. After months of talks, the 15-member Security Council approved a non-binding statement on October 2 urging increased humanitarian access.

Ms Amos has complained that that statement has had little effect on the ground. Western diplomats say they would like the council to adopt a legally binding resolution but worry Russia would veto it.

Senior UN diplomats say that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov previously dismissed the possibility of a legally binding resolution on aid access in Syria.

Russia, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, and China have vetoed three Security Council resolutions since October 2011 that would have condemned the government and threatened it with sanctions.

* Associated Press