The President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Mr Tadateru Konoé, has concluded a visit to Syria where the humanitarian impact of the crisis is worsening.
President Konoé commended the Syrian Arab Red Crescent Society (SARC) for its life-saving activities since the crisis began two years ago. “SARC is the only humanitarian organization which can extend its services across the whole country, working in full compliance with the Red Cross Red Crescent Fundamental Principles, particularly humanity, neutrality, unity and independence” Konoé said.
SARC has expanded its operations, providing assistance to almost 2 million people every month through its 3,000 active volunteers, 14 branches and 80 sub-branches across Damascus and in many vulnerable areas across Syria.
The president called on all parties to respect the Red Cross Red Crescent principles, mandate and emblems and to guarantee the security and protection of humanitarian workers including volunteers. “The safety of humanitarian workers needs strengthening. More than 20 SARC volunteers and staff have been killed since the beginning of this crisis,” he said. “Hundreds of others cross front lines working in shifts around the clock in areas of great insecurity.”
In Damascus, Konoé praised SARC volunteers for their commitment and dedication in extreme circumstances. “They embody every day the power of our fundamental principles in action,” he said. As SARC intensifies its efforts to assist more beneficiaries, he also recalled the vital importance of facilitating SARC humanitarian workers’ access and services to those who need it most, without distinction.
After 26 months of protracted violence in Syria, more than 4 million Syrians are internally displaced, while 1.5 million have fled to surrounding countries and an estimated 3.1 million children have been affected. Within the country, all areas of life have been severely affected: infrastructure, livelihoods, access to food, safe water and sanitation. Fuel shortages are worsening in many parts of the country, while one-third of Syria’s hospitals are out of service.
The situation in surrounding countries is also worsening, especially over the past months. Visiting Jordan and a refugee camp where the Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates is currently operating, President Konoé witnessed the effort required to provide refugee families safe shelter and means for subsistence, access to health care, schools and medicine.
“I must share my serious concerns with the Jordanian Government and its people with regard to the extra strain this will place on the social, economic, health, educational, environmental and other sectors,” said President Konoé. “This is particularly true as Syrian refugees continue to stream into Jordan, which is already caring for many other displaced persons, including Palestinian and Iraqi refugees, for so many years.”
The country is officially hosting more than 440,000 refugees. Over 70 per cent of these live with host families and need support to pay rent, bills, health care and education costs. An estimated 140,000 people are waiting to enter Jordan.
“The Jordan National Red Crescent Society has been responding to the crisis since the onset, and more recently coordinated cash-transfer programmes for Syrian families living in host communities,” Konoé said.
The government has also provided much needed support and access to core services, but is running out of funds and capacity. “This situation will not be tenable in the long run without dramatically increased support from the international community. In the regions bordering Syria, refugees have outnumbered Jordanians which could cause social tensions. While striving to meet the needs of Syrian refugees, greater attention would also be required to support host communities.”
Now was not the time for the international community to watch and wait, Konoé said. “The ever-increasing number of women, men, girls and boys fleeing the violence in Syria into neighbouring countries is surpassing estimates and requiring our urgent action.”
To support the host National Societies in their response, the IFRC is launching a revised appeal for Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, scaling up from CHF 3.7 million to CH 27 million, and for Turkey from CHF 35 million to CHF 40 million (Swiss francs).
For more information or interviews, please contact:
In Beirut:
- Raefah Makki, Communications Coordinator, MENA zone office, IFRC
Mobile: +961 70 258225, E-mail: raefah.makki@ifrc.org
In Geneva: