Syria humanitarian update OCHA - UNHCR
/
2:22
/
MP4
/
173.3 MB
Download

Edited News | OCHA , UNHCR

Syria humanitarian update OCHA - UNHCR

Syria: needs continue to grow amid highly uncertain situation, say aid teams

The historic power shift in Syria and the still volatile situation two days after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime have increased humanitarian needs in a country where nearly 17 million people, including millions of internally displaced, already depended on humanitarian aid before the recent events, UN aid teams said on Tuesday.

Since 28 November, “more than one million people – mostly women and children – have been displaced across Idlib, Aleppo, Hama and Homs. Some have reportedly been gone returning home in recent days,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to journalists in Geneva on Tuesday.

The OCHA spokesperson also noted that humanitarian operations in affected areas including Homs, Hama, and Damascus have recommenced. “As of yesterday, all humanitarian organizations in Idlib and northern Aleppo have resumed operations”, Mr. Laerke said, adding that the three border crossings from Türkiye used by the UN to deliver assistance into Syria have remained open.

UN agencies and partners are providing basic assistance in the northwest, including to those newly displaced; food, health and nutrition services have been provided, as well as support for access to clean water in Aleppo. But health facilities are reportedly overwhelmed, with major hospitals operating at limited capacity owing to shortages of staff, medicine and supplies. Humanitarian partners continue to provide trauma care, maintain blood banks and administer vaccinations.

“Money is, as always, an issue. Our $4 billion appeal for this year is currently less than a third funded”, Mr. Laerke emphasized.

According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), seven million Syrians have been displaced internally, and more than five million have fled to neighbouring countries and beyond, uprooted by almost 14 years of war. That represents half of the country's pre-war population of 23 million.

For those forced to flee, “they are considering how safe Syria is to return to, and how far their rights will be respected before they can make an informed, voluntary decision to return home. They must be given the space to do so without any pressure”, insisted Shabia Mantoo from the UN refugee agency. She reiterated that all refugees have the fundamental right to return to their country of origin at a time of their choosing, and overturns must be voluntary, dignified and safe.

Asked about the decisions by host countries in Europe to suspend decisions on Syrian asylum claims after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Ms. Mantoo reiterated that “any Syrian or anyone seeking international protection must be able to access asylum procedures and have their application examined fully and individually on its merits”.

On 27 November, a coalition of opposition forces, led by the armed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched an offensive from its stronghold of Idlib, seizing dozens of localities and the strategic cities of Aleppo, Hama and Homs, before reaching the capital, Damascus.

The Syrian conflict was sparked after the suppression of a popular uprising that escalated into civil war in 2011.

Ends

Story: “Syria humanitarian update – OCHA, UNHCR” – 10 December 2024

Speakers are:

  • Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
  • Shabia Mantoo, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)

TRT: 02’22”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 10 December 2024 - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
Geneva Press briefing



SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior medium shot: UN flag alley.
  2. Wide shot of the press conference room.
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “Before the recent events, nearly 17 million people, including millions of internally displaced people, already required humanitarian assistance. Since 28 November more than one million people – mostly women and children – have been displaced across Idlib, Aleppo, Hama and Homs. Some have reportedly been gone returning home in recent days.
  4. Wide shot of the press conference room.
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): “As of yesterday, all humanitarian organizations in Idlib and northern Aleppo have resumed operations. The three border crossings from Türkiye used by the UN to deliver assistance into Syria remain open and we are providing assistance in the north-west including to those who have been newly displaced.
  6. Medium shot: journalists in the press conference room.
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): The humanitarian needs are growing and a scaled-up response is urgently required. Money is, as always, an issue. Our $4 billion appeal for this year is currently less than a third funded.
  8. Medium shot of the press conference room.
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) Shabia Mantoo, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “Millions of Syrian refugees who remain outside are trying to understand what the rapidly changing situation means for them. They are considering how safe Syria is to return to and how far their rights will be respected before they can make an informed, voluntary decision to return home. They must be given the space to do so without any pressure.”
  10. Medium rear shot of the speaker on the podium in the press conference room.
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) Shabia Mantoo, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): “We take note of the reporting of the suspension of asylum applications from Syrian nationals. So, just to reiterate that events are rapidly unfolding and the situation is changing. So, the displacement dynamics are continuing. So, what is important is to bear in mind the fluidity of the situation and that any Syrian or anyone seeking international protection must be able to access asylum procedures and have their application examined fully and individually on its merits.”
  12. Medium shot of screen and journalist in the press room.
  13. Various shots of journalists in the press conference room.


Audio Files 1
Download Syria humanitarian update OCHA - UNHCR (Edited Story)
Download

Similar Stories

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on attacks around aid sites in Gaza

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on attacks around aid sites in Gaza ENG FRA

“Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza, are unconscionable. For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured,” Jeremy Laurence UN Human Rights spokesperson said at the biweekly press briefing in Geneva.

Gaza aid update - OCHA 30 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA

Gaza aid update - OCHA 30 May 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza ‘hungriest place on earth’ with aid stymied – UN humanitarians

Starving Gazans continue to be deprived of aid as international relief efforts are being severely constrained by the Israeli authorities, the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA said on Friday.

Gaza humanitarian update - OCHA, UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNRWA

Gaza humanitarian update - OCHA, UNRWA ENG FRA

As a controversial United States and Israel-backed aid distribution plan gets underway in Gaza, the UN called on Tuesday for an “immediate surge” of its own pre-positioned supplies to help prevent starvation.

Uganda UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani  urges president to reject bill allowing trials of civilians in military courts

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Uganda UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani urges president to reject bill allowing trials of civilians in military courts ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani today urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to reject a bill that was recently endorsed by parliament allowing trials of civilians in military courts. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces Amendment Bill 2025, which was passed on 20 May and now awaits presidential signature to become law, among others broadens the jurisdiction of military courts, authorising them to try a wide range of offences against civilians.

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango: South Sudan: UN human rights chief decries escalating hostilities, arbitrary arrests and hate speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango: South Sudan: UN human rights chief decries escalating hostilities, arbitrary arrests and hate speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today warned of a further deterioration in the human rights situation in South Sudan at the bi-weekly briefing in Geneva.

Syria humanitarian update OCHA - WHO 23 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Syria humanitarian update OCHA - WHO 23 May 2025 ENG FRA

Syria: ‘Staggering’ needs amid insecurity, health care crisis  - UN humanitarians

Millions of people in Syria continue to face mortal danger from unexploded munitions, disease and malnutrition and urgent support is required, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

Gaza health update - UNRWA - OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , OCHA , WHO

Gaza health update - UNRWA - OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

UN life-saving aid allowed to trickle into Gaza as civilian needs mount

Amid calls for more humanitarian trucks to enter the food and medicine-deprived Palestinian enclave of Gaza, UN humanitarians have received permission from Israel for “around 100” more aid trucks to cross into the Strip after only five were let in yesterday,  But the scale of relief efforts allowed remains entirely insufficient to meet the urgent needs of people there, humanitarian workers say.

Press vests becoming a target - war reporter Christina Assi

1

1

1

Edited News

Press vests becoming a target - war reporter Christina Assi ENG FRA

A war reporter from Lebanon who lost a limb in the line of duty is calling for an end to impunity for attacks against journalists.

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | ITU

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025 ENG FRA

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) commemorated 160 years dedicated to connecting the world on Saturday, 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland, during the annual World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , OCHA

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025 ENG FRA

Gazans ‘in terror’ after another night of deadly strikes and siege

Amid reports that Israeli strikes across Gaza into Friday killed at least 64 people, aid teams once again pushed back strongly at allegations that aid is being diverted to Hamas and pleaded for the blockade to end.

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America ENG FRA

Deportations over recent months of large numbers of non-nationals from the United States of America, especially to countries other than those of their origin, raise a number of human rights concerns, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned on Tuesday.   

Gaza health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO ENG FRA

Gaza: Over 50 child malnutrition deaths amid aid blockade; entire generation will be ‘permanently affected’ - WHO

In the aid desert of Gaza, malnourished children are dying while survivors can expect a lifetime of dire health problems, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.