16.7 million Syrians require humanitarian aids: UN

The UN reported that 16.7 million people in Syria require humanitarian assistance, the highest number in the 13-year conflict, according to an article by Anadolu Agency.

During a virtual briefing of member states, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, highlighted that the situation in Syria is worsening in terms of security, humanitarian conditions, human rights, and politics.

“We urge donors, both traditional and non-traditional, to give generously to the humanitarian response, including for early recovery,” he said.

Pedersen also mentioned the displacement of half of Syria’s pre-war population and the rejection of an invitation for the Syrian Constitutional Committee to convene in Geneva by the Bashar al-Assad regime.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs, Joyce Msuya, emphasized the urgent need for funding to provide life-saving aid, especially for the 7 million displaced people and 13 million in need of food assistance in Syria.

She also highlighted a threefold increase in acute malnutrition among children under 5 years old in the past five years, with over half a million children needing life-saving treatment this year.

Despite the high demand for humanitarian assistance, funding has reached record lows, prompting a call for increased support for sustained and unhindered humanitarian access.