Statement by Angelita Caredda, the Norwegian Refugee Council's (NRC) Middle East and North Africa Regional Director on the events in Syria.
Syria: Hostilities must stop to enable peace and stability
“As Syrians begin to chart a new course for their country, developments on the ground remain volatile. The security situation has stabilised in many major cities, enabling aid workers to gradually restart vital work. Yet, we are extremely concerned that surges in fighting, particularly in the north-east, will only cause further human suffering and uncertainty. We call on all sides to de-escalate urgently, avoid targeting civilian areas or infrastructure and to allow humanitarian agencies to operate safely. The protection of civilians and minorities must not be compromised.
“The humanitarian emergency is not over; millions of displaced Syrians in and outside the country continue to be in need of humanitarian aid. As cold conditions set in, families recently displaced to collective shelters, including schools, will struggle to secure food, drinking water and heating, amid rising inflation.
“At NRC, our support for displaced Syrians inside the country and refugees in the region continues. We call for unhindered humanitarian access and unconditional funding to flow into Syria to support families to recover. Those who eventually choose to return home must also be supported to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into their communities meaningfully.
“For years, the world has shied away from dealing with the humanitarian crisis in Syria in ways that guarantee people’s long-term safety and future. This is the moment when we need the world to stand up and join efforts to put an end to the fighting and ensure that all civilians make transition into a safer, inclusive Syria, in line with their rights, needs and aspirations.”
Notes to editors:
- Thousands of people continue to flee to north-eastern areas, with reports of around 100,000 displaced (OCHA).
- Two-thirds of the Syria Humanitarian Response Plan for 2024 remain unfunded (OCHA FTS).
- There are around five million Syrian refugees in the region (UNHCR).
- Due to the fluidity of developments, exact figures of population movement have been difficult to confirm.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- Ahmed Bayram, Middle East and North Africa regional media advisor: bayram@nrc.no, +962 790 160 147
“As Syrians begin to chart a new course for their country, developments on the ground remain volatile. The security situation has stabilised in many major cities, enabling aid workers to gradually restart vital work. Yet, we are extremely concerned that surges in fighting, particularly in the north-east, will only cause further human suffering and uncertainty. We call on all sides to de-escalate urgently, avoid targeting civilian areas or infrastructure and to allow humanitarian agencies to operate safely. The protection of civilians and minorities must not be compromised.
“The humanitarian emergency is not over; millions of displaced Syrians in and outside the country continue to be in need of humanitarian aid. As cold conditions set in, families recently displaced to collective shelters, including schools, will struggle to secure food, drinking water and heating, amid rising inflation.
“At NRC, our support for displaced Syrians inside the country and refugees in the region continues. We call for unhindered humanitarian access and unconditional funding to flow into Syria to support families to recover. Those who eventually choose to return home must also be supported to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into their communities meaningfully.
“For years, the world has shied away from dealing with the humanitarian crisis in Syria in ways that guarantee people’s long-term safety and future. This is the moment when we need the world to stand up and join efforts to put an end to the fighting and ensure that all civilians make transition into a safer, inclusive Syria, in line with their rights, needs and aspirations.”
Notes to editors:
- Thousands of people continue to flee to north-eastern areas, with reports of around 100,000 displaced (OCHA).
- Two-thirds of the Syria Humanitarian Response Plan for 2024 remain unfunded (OCHA FTS).
- There are around five million Syrian refugees in the region (UNHCR).
- Due to the fluidity of developments, exact figures of population movement have been difficult to confirm.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- Ahmed Bayram, Middle East and North Africa regional media advisor: bayram@nrc.no, +962 790 160 147