UNOG-NEWS Syria Update 18OCT2019
/
2:27
/
MP4
/
182.2 MB

Edited News | UNICEF , UNHCR , OCHA , WHO , UNOG , WFP

Bi-weekly press briefing: Northern Syria update - WHO/UNHCR/OCHA/UNICEF/WFP

Shelling and clashes in northern Syria on the border with Turkey continue to cause hundreds of people to flee, the UN said today (18 Oct), despite a cessation of hostilities deal between Turkish forces and Syrian-backed Kurdish military.

Hailed as a ceasefire by some Governments and a five-day pause in hostilities by others, the agreement comes nine days into a military campaign launched by Turkey against Kurdish-held territory on its southern border, east of the Euphrates river.

“Despite the announcement of the ceasefire – it’s called different things, pauses by others – shelling and intermittent clashes continue to be reported around Ras-al-Ain as of this morning, although the situation is reportedly calm elsewhere,” said Jens Laerke from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Updating journalists in Geneva, several UN agencies confirmed that they were continuing to deliver aid and provide basic services in the conflict zone “where access allows.”

Highlighting critical needs, the World Health Organization (WHO) appealed for the humanitarian response to be scaled-up urgently.

Spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic noted that 40 tonnes of medical supplies had been airlifted from Damascus to Qamishli earlier this week, while Ras al Ain and Tal Abyad hospitals remain closed.

This has made Tal Tamr Hospital “the main reception point for wounded persons coming from conflict at Ras al Ain”, he explained, before adding that it has “struggled to cope of the influx of patients and patients”, who have been sent to Al Hasakeh and Qamishli.

The WHO supplies – which include more than 100,000 treatments and 620 trauma kits – will be distributed to WHO-supported facilities in Al-Hasakeh, rural Ar-Raqqa and rural Deir-ez-Zor.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Friday that it plans reach 580,000 people in affected areas this month.

Since 9 October, the UN agency has provided assistance to 170,000 people, spokesperson Herve Verhoosel said, expressing concern at the mass displacement caused by the violence.

“There are more than 165,000 people on the move in the north-east, and they seek shelter in Al-Hassakeh and in Raqqa,” he said. “Many people in those cities choose to stay with family and friends rather than in collective shelters, so that figure in fact can even be higher.”

Lack of drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people is still a serious concern in Al-Hassakeh, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said.

“The Alouk water pumping station in Hassakeh is still non-functional due to the damage on the main power lines, affecting water supply to 400,000 people,” said Marixie Mercado, spokesperson.

“Deconfliction is needed to allow UNICEF to supply 16,000 litres of fuel on a daily basis in order to run the back-up generators.”

Asked to comment on Turkey’s reported wish to send home nearly four million Syrian refugees who have been sheltering in the country for years, UNHCR’s Mr. Mahecic replied that it had not seen any proposals “from any party.”

Reiterating the agency’s stance on the return of refugees, he insisted that any return of refugees to Syria or any other place in the world “has to be voluntary, it has to be dignified and it has to be safe at the time when it is safe to return.”

1. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations flag alley
2. Wide shot, podium with speakers
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Laerke, spokesperson, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA):
“Despite the announcement of the ceasefire – it’s called different things, pauses by others – shelling and intermittent clashes continue to be reported around Ras-al-Ain as of this morning, although the situation is reportedly calm elsewhere.”
4. Wide shot, podium with speakers
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tarik Jasarevic, spokesperson, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Tal Tamr Hospital has been the main reception point for wounded persons coming from the conflict zone at Ras al Ain. The hospital has struggled to cope of the influx of patients and patients have been subsequently referred onwards to Al Hasakeh and Qamishli.”
6. Wide shot, TV camera and journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Hervé Verhoosel senior spokesperson, World Food Programme (WFP):
“There are more than 165,000 people on the move in the north-east, and they seek shelter in Hasakeh and in Raqqa. Many people in those cities choose to stay with family and friends rather than in collective shelters, so that figure in fact can even be higher.”
8. Wide shot, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrej Mahecic, spokesperson, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR):
“Another 734 refugees have entered Iraq last night. That is in addition to the 1,600 that we have moved to Bardarash camp over the past four days.”
10. Med shot, journalists
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Marixie Mercado, spokesperson, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
“The Alouk water pumping station in Hassakeh is still non-functional due to the damage on the main power lines, affecting water supply to 400,000 people. Deconfliction is needed to allow UNICEF to supply 16,000 litres of fuel on a daily basis in order to run the back-up generators.”
12. Med shot, journalists on their laptops
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrej Mahecic, spokesperson, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR):
“We haven’t seen any specific proposals from any party to these talks, so there nothing specific for us to comment about. You know our global position on the return of refugees that any return of refugees to Syria or any other place in the world has to be voluntary, it has to be dignified and it has to be safe at the time when it is safe to return.”
14. Med shot, journalist working on laptop
15. Wide shot, journalists
16. Med shot, TV camera operators

Similar Stories

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his report on Sri Lanka to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity ENG FRA

A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025 ENG FRA

As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva. 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office released a new report on Myanmar, describing death, destruction and desperation which reflect atrocities committed in 2017. 

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR ENG FRA

Afghanistan: Humanitarians scramble to reach survivors of deadly quake; response at ‘breaking point’

In remote eastern Afghanistan, aid workers are racing to assist survivors of Sunday’s devastating earthquake as the death toll continues to climb, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA ENG FRA

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, repeated his urgent call for a ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, amid increased military Israeli activity in the enclave’s largest city.

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025 ENG FRA

Amid reports of increased Israeli military operations across Gaza City on Friday, UN aid agencies repeated urgent warnings of ongoing famine and a likely rise in preventable disease, linked to the dire living conditions in the war-shattered enclave.

OHCHR-Ravina Shamdasani: increasing executions in Iran

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

OHCHR-Ravina Shamdasani: increasing executions in Iran ENG FRA

UN calls for Iran to halt executions and move towards ending the death penalty.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on Killing of Journalists in Gaza

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on Killing of Journalists in Gaza ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan made the following comment on the killing of journalists in Gaza at the bi-weekly press briefing.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on “rotation” practice by Egyptian Government

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on “rotation” practice by Egyptian Government ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday called on Egyptian authorities to end the practice known as “rotation”, which allows Government critics to be held arbitrarily and for prolonged periods.