The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, announced Thursday that the organization’s humanitarian coordinator will be in Turkey and Syria this weekend and asked the Security Council for measures to facilitate aid to the victims of the earthquakes in Syrian territory.
Focusing on the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria this week, Guterres spoke to the press in New York and insisted that the crisis must be avoided “politicizing” at a time when “massive support” is needed for the population. from the area. , noting that more authorized crossings would increase support for residents of Idlib province and other areas under rebel control in Syria.
Guterres also hopes he can increase aid shipments into Syria, which have been minimal due to difficulties crossing the front lines.
Already on Wednesday, a spokesman for the United Nations (UN) had made this appeal to the Security Council, the body that authorizes the United Nations and its humanitarian partners to introduce aid from abroad to populations in opposition areas without intermediation. of the Damascus government. .
However, in recent years Russia -the great ally of Syrian President Bashar al Asad- has forced the number of tickets available to be reduced to just one -Bab al-Hawa- through which a first caravan with aid for the victims travels. of the earthquake.
The UN leader also announced that the organization’s humanitarian coordinator, Martin Griffiths, will visit the most affected areas this weekend to assess the needs of the population and find ways to bring more aid to those affected.
According to Guterres, Griffiths will travel to Gaziantep, in Turkish territory, and to Aleppo and Damascus, in neighboring Syria.
The priority right now, according to the former Portuguese prime minister, is to obtain the maximum amount of humanitarian aid and access to the most affected areas.
“It is time to explore all possible ways to get aid and personnel to the affected areas. We have to put people first,” the UN chief said.
Guterres also called on the international community to show the people of Turkey and Syria the “same generosity and support” that he has shown to other refugees around the world.
The Secretary General stated that one of his priorities at this time is to obtain more financial resources to expand the humanitarian response.
So far, the United Nations has approved an initial urgent aid of 25 million dollars (23.2 million euros) and intends to launch a new appeal to donors early next week.
The death toll caused by the earthquake that shook Turkey and Syria on Monday exceeded 17,500, according to a new provisional balance made public today by the authorities of both countries.
In Turkey, the balance is at least 14,351 dead, according to Turkish Vice President Fuat Otkay.
In Syria, new provisional data confirms the death of at least 3,162 people.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday. It was followed by several aftershocks, one of which was magnitude 7.5.
Source: TSF
