The United Nations suspended the work of its humanitarian aid task force in Syria amid ongoing airstrikes, including one that injured a 5-year-old boy who has become the most recent face of the country's bloody civil war.
The announcement from Staffan de Mistura, the U.N.'s special envoy for Syria, comes hours after a military strike on rebel-held Qaterji. He cut short a humanitarian aid meeting Thursday after just eight minutes, saying it made "no sense" to continue plans for aid when humanitarian workers are not allowed in the devastated areas. He said convoys have not been able to reach areas most in need.
"I decided to use my privilege as chair to declare that there was no sense to have a humanitarian meeting today unless we got some action on the humanitarian side in Syria," De Mistura said. "What we are hearing and seeing is only fighting, offensives, counteroffensives, rockets, barrel bombs, mortars, hellfire cannons, napalm, chlorine, snipers, airstrikes, suicide bombers."
De Mistura again called for a 48-hour halt in gunfire to allow for deliveries of aid that includes medications, food and water. He said the task force is suspended until next week in the hopes of bringing together the United States and Russia.
"I insist, on behalf of the U.N. secretary general, to have a 48-hour pause in Aleppo," he said. "That would require some heavy lifting not only by the two co-chairs [Russia and the United States] but also those who have influence on the ground."...
[upi.com]
18/8/16
The announcement from Staffan de Mistura, the U.N.'s special envoy for Syria, comes hours after a military strike on rebel-held Qaterji. He cut short a humanitarian aid meeting Thursday after just eight minutes, saying it made "no sense" to continue plans for aid when humanitarian workers are not allowed in the devastated areas. He said convoys have not been able to reach areas most in need.
"I decided to use my privilege as chair to declare that there was no sense to have a humanitarian meeting today unless we got some action on the humanitarian side in Syria," De Mistura said. "What we are hearing and seeing is only fighting, offensives, counteroffensives, rockets, barrel bombs, mortars, hellfire cannons, napalm, chlorine, snipers, airstrikes, suicide bombers."
De Mistura again called for a 48-hour halt in gunfire to allow for deliveries of aid that includes medications, food and water. He said the task force is suspended until next week in the hopes of bringing together the United States and Russia.
"I insist, on behalf of the U.N. secretary general, to have a 48-hour pause in Aleppo," he said. "That would require some heavy lifting not only by the two co-chairs [Russia and the United States] but also those who have influence on the ground."...
[upi.com]
18/8/16
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