Press Statement
Hadi al Bahra
President of the Syrian Coalition
December 17, 2014
We welcome the UN Security Council’s adoption of resolution 2191, which renews the provisions of SCR 2165 allowing continued access of cross border aid to Syria without the consent of the Assad regime.
The adoption of resolution 2165 on July 14, 2014, made it possible for UN agencies to reach hundreds of thousands of civilians desperately in need across Syria. The renewal of the mandate of resolution 2165, through the adoption of resolution 2191, is a very important step in the international community’s efforts to relieve the suffering of vulnerable civilians caught in the bloody conflict in Syria; but more is needed.
Nearly half the Syrian population has been forced to leave their homes, and more than 12 million people, including five million children, are in need of assistance in Syria. Access to basic needs for civilians in hard to reach and besieged areas remains largely restricted, and with the onset of a harsh winter, large communities across Syria continue to be in dire need of medical supplies, blankets, food, and clothing.
No words can describe our gratitude to thousands of humanitarian workers who are risking their lives on a daily basis to deliver much needed aid to civilians across Syria. Although the Assad regime continues to block humanitarian access in most areas, the dedicated assiduous humanitarian workers of the UN and NGOs are doing a commendable job delivering much needed assistance to hundreds of thousands of people.
As the biggest crisis of the 21st century continues to unfold in Syria, humanitarian organizations trying to respond to the growing needs of an impoverished population are stretched to the limit. We urge donor countries to honor their promises and deliver on their pledges to support humanitarian agencies, as they face enormous pressure in trying to secure the funds needed to carry on their invaluable operations in Syria.
