16.7 million Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance: UN

By Merve Aydogan

ONTARIO, Canada (AA) - The UN noted Thursday that 16.7 million people in Syria need humanitarian assistance, marking the highest in the 13-year conflict.

Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, who virtually briefed member states at a UN Security Council meeting, said all developments in Syria were going "in the wrong directions," with setbacks in security, humanitarian conditions, human rights and politics.

Pedersen noted that after 13 years, the conflict continued on numerous fronts, with regional effects persisting.

"We urge donors, both traditional and non-traditional, to give generously to the humanitarian response, including for early recovery," he said.

Pedersen mentioned that half of Syria's pre-war population had been displaced, with large numbers unable to return due to security and living conditions.

Noting the call made last month for the Syrian Constitutional Committee to convene in Geneva in April, the UN envoy said that while the invitation was accepted by the Syrian Negotiations Commission, it was rejected by the Bashar al-Assad regime.

The Syrian civil war began in 2011 when the al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.

Hundreds of thousands of people have since been killed and millions displaced, according to UN estimates.

- Urgent need of funding to sustain life-saving aid

Joyce Msuya, UN Deputy Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs and deputy emergency relief coordinator, said 7 million people have been displaced in Syria, with approximately 13 million in need of food assistance.

Saying that "acute malnutrition among children under the age of 5 has surged threefold in the past five years," Msuya noted that "more than half a million children will need life-saving treatment for acute malnutrition this year."

Despite the record number of people in need of humanitarian assistance, Msuya said funding had reached record lows.

Calling for increased support for humanitarian aid, Msuya pointed out the need for "sustained and unhindered humanitarian access through all modalities."

"And we urgently need the necessary funding to sustain life-saving assistance and expand early recovery," she added.