UN aid officials, partners appeal for ‘real peace’ ahead of Syrian conflict anniversary | WPN World People News

“Until parties to the conflict fully open up safe, unimpeded access to everyone we will keep trying to reach civilians by all and any means possible, however challenging,” the officials vowed.

A street lined with rubble and destroyed buildings in the Old City area of Homs, Syria.

They also said that the UN and partners continue “to work to negotiate access with all parties,” including in hopes of delivering aid across hard-to-reach areas. Those areas include parts of northern rural Homs and in Aleppo, where the UN estimates that half a million people are caught behind active frontlines. In addition, some two million people are believed to be in areas controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The statement also points to continued attacks on civilians and civilian locations, including schools, markets and hospitals, with medical supplies and equipment being removed at checkpoints.

“This is unacceptable,” the senior officials said, and reiterated that until these actions stop, they will continue to press all parties on their obligations and to hold them to account.

There are, however, “signs of momentum, fragile glimmers of hope” with fewer bombs, more humanitarian access and preparations for negotiators from all sides to talk, according to the statement. “As humanitarians we welcome progress where it means real change.”

The statement was signed by Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’Brien; Executive Director of the World Food Programme Ertharin Cousin; Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund Anthony Lake; High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi; Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr. Margaret Chan; Director General of the International Organization for Migration William Lacy Swing; Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Pierre Krähenbühl; Administrator of UN Development Programme Helen Clark; Chief Executive Officer of InterAgency; Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict Leila Zerrougui; and Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Hawa Bangura.

Source: United Nations