Video Player is loading.
Advertisement
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
        OCHA Press Conference: Syria humanitarian situation - 22 March 2024
        /
        27:41
        /
        MP4
        /
        1.7 GB

        Press Conferences , Edited News | OCHA

        OCHA Press Conference: Syria humanitarian situation - 22 March 2024

        As aid funding dries up, Syria conflict remains among deadliest to civilians

        A UN official on Friday appealed for about $4 billion in humanitarian assistance for Syria, warning that funding was almost non-existent and that the Gaza war has had spillover effects adding to the suffering of the Syrian people.

        “The Syria crisis remains one of the most deadly to civilians in the world. Hostilities continue to plague various parts of Syria and have recently seen a sharp spike, especially in the north,” said Adam Abdelmoula, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, speaking from Damascus to a press briefing at the United Nations in Geneva.

        From 1 January to 31 December 2023, 454 civilians, including 88 women and 115 children, were killed as a result of the conflict. The Syria war began 13 years ago, and since then the needs of the people have grown exponentially.

        Today, a staggering 16.7 million people require some form of humanitarian assistance in Syria – an increase from 15.3 million in 2023 and 14.6 million in 2022. Over 7 million people are internally displaced and nearly as many are refugees in other countries (a majority are in the neighboring countries, Jordan, Lebanon, Türkiye, etc.). At least 12.9 million people are food insecure across the country.

        As of the beginning of March, only 0.02 percent of the 2024 humanitarian response plan requirements had secured funding.

        Syria's vulnerability to climate shocks, exacerbated by conflict, includes water scarcity and the devastating earthquakes in February last year wreaked havoc on a situation that was already catastrophic. The earthquakes killed some 6,000 people and injured more than 12,800 in Syria, increasing the strain on services, causing displacement and inflicting widespread damage.

        In addition, the ongoing escalation in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel and south Lebanon had already had spillover effects, including on affected populations and critical civilian infrastructure across Syria.

        “Since the escalation in Gaza begun, we have already seen multiple calls by ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) inciting revenge attacks worldwide, including against Arab governments whom they accuse of ‘protecting Israel’ “, said Mr. Abdelmoula.

        He added that “there has been a significant increase in the air attacks by the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) targeting various elements that are here in the Syrian territory. And … that has led to displacement of populations in the targeted areas.”

        The targeting of airports in Syria has also impacted humanitarian air services which led to the cancellation of almost 50 humanitarian flights in 2023.

        “Syrians are increasingly driven to desperate measures as they undertake treacherous journeys to other countries in search of opportunities,” said the UN official. “In many cases, they paid the ultimate price for these dangerous endeavors. No human being should have to risk his or her life in search of a decent life.”

        Urging countries to act even "out of sheer national self-interest”, he warned that “we could see a situation where migration to Europe will increase. I hasten to say that in 2023 we have seen 181,000 new applications for asylum in Europe and that represents 38 per cent compared to 2022.”

        Despite the complex operating environment in Syria, UN and humanitarian partners were able to reach 6.8 million people in need every month in 2023.

        -ends-


        Documents 1
        Download Storyline
        Download

        Audio Files 2
        Download OCHA Press Conference: Syria humanitarian situation - 22 March 2024 (Continuity)
        Download
        Download Humanitarian situation in Syria: OCHA (Edited Story)
        Download

        Similar Stories

        Press Conference: Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat - 09 May 2025

        1

        1

        1

        Press Conferences | BRS

        Press Conference: Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat - 09 May 2025 ENG FRA

        Outcomes of the 2025 BRS Conventions Conference of the Parties (COPs)

        UN Geneva Press Briefing - 09 May 2025

        1

        1

        1

        Press Conferences | UNRWA , UNICEF , OCHA , WHO , ITU , WFP , UNHCR

        UN Geneva Press Briefing - 09 May 2025 ENG FRA

        Rolando Gómez of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Telecommunications Union.

        Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025

        1

        1

        1

        Edited News | WHO , UNICEF , UNRWA

        Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025 ENG FRA

        Israel’s aid plan will force Gaza families to choose ‘between displacement and death’ – UN humanitarians

        Israel’s plan to take control of relief assistance in Gaza risks increasing the suffering of families already exhausted by 18 months of war by putting their lives in danger and inciting more displacement, using aid as “bait”, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

        UN Geneva Press Briefing - 06 May 2025

        1

        1

        1

        Press Conferences | UNDP , UNHCR , WHO , UNECE , OCHA , WMO

        UN Geneva Press Briefing - 06 May 2025 ENG FRA

        Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of

        the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

        Gaza humanitarian blockade  OCHA - WHO

        1

        1

        1

        Edited News | OCHA , WHO

        Gaza humanitarian blockade OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

        UN Humanitarians reject Israeli plan to take over aid delivery

        The reported Israeli proposal to deliver humanitarian supplies through hubs controlled by the military would be a breach of the core principles of neutral, impartial and independent aid delivery, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Tuesday.

         

        Gaza two months blockade - OCHA 02 MAY 2025

        1

        1

        1

        Edited News , B-roll | OCHA

        Gaza two months blockade - OCHA 02 MAY 2025 ENG FRA

        Gaza: ‘Worst-case scenario’ unfolds as two-month aid blockade deepens suffering - OCHA

        Two months into a devastating aid blockade of Gaza food has run out and people are fighting over water amid relentless bombing, the UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) said on Friday.

        /Includes OCHA footage from Gaza City/

        UN Geneva Press Briefing - 02 May 2025

        1

        1

        1

        Press Conferences | UNDP , OCHA , UNHCR

        UN Geneva Press Briefing - 02 May 2025 ENG FRA

        Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations Refugee Agency.

        Gaza humanitarian update - UNRWA

        1

        1

        1

        Edited News | UNRWA

        Gaza humanitarian update - UNRWA ENG FRA

        Children in Gaza are going to bed starving, says aid agency
        The biggest UN aid agency in Gaza on Tuesday condemned the two-month Israeli blockade on Gaza that has left families sharing a single tin of food at mealtime and the sick and injured without lifesaving medical help, amid daily bombardment.

        UN Geneva Press Briefing - 29 April 2025

        1

        1

        1

        Press Conferences | IFRC , UNHCR , UNRWA

        UN Geneva Press Briefing - 29 April 2025 ENG FRA

        Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

        Ukraine attacks - UNHCR 25 April 2025

        1

        1

        1

        Edited News | UNHCR

        Ukraine attacks - UNHCR 25 April 2025 ENG FRA

        Ongoing Russian attacks in Ukraine force frontline areas to empty: UNHCR

        With Ukrainian cities still reeling from this week’s deadly Russian missile and drone attacks, communities on the front line continue to be targeted too, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday. “We also see attacks on frontline regions increasing and it's, as always, civilians that are bearing the highest cost of the war,” said Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine. 

         

        Press Conference: Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat - 25 April 2025

        1

        1

        1

        Press Conferences | BRS

        Press Conference: Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariat - 25 April 2025 ENG FRA

        2025 BRS Conventions Conference of the Parties (COPs)

        UN Geneva Press Briefing - 25 April 2025

        1

        1

        2

        Press Conferences | WFP , UNHCR , WHO

        UN Geneva Press Briefing - 25 April 2025 ENG FRA

        Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Health Organization.