Tag: Peace and security

Four months of conflict ‘destroying people’s lives and violating their basic human rights’, humanitarians warn — Global Issues

In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that the “disastrous, senseless war in Sudan, born out of a wanton drive for power, has resulted in thousands of deaths, the destruction of family homes, schools, hospitals and other essential services, massive displacement, as well as sexual violence, in acts which may amount to war crimes”.

Over four million flee conflict

William Spindler, spokesperson for the UN refugee agency UNHCR, noted that over 4.3 million people have been forced to flee since conflict erupted on 15 April between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Latest UN data indicates that more than 900,000 refugees and asylum seekers have fled to neighbouring countries and 195,000 South Sudanese have been forced to leave Sudan.

Mr. Spindler added that within Sudan, over 3.2 million people have been internally displaced, including more than 187,000 refugees already living in the country at the start of the crisis.

Echoing that message, UN World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson Dr Margaret Harris warned that some 67 per cent of hospitals in the affected areas were out of service, denying access to care for “tens of thousands of people”.

‘Death sentence’ for children

The WHO official further noted that the UN agency had verified 53 attacks on healthcare, adding that 11 people have been killed and 38 injured.

In the context of “insecurity, population displacement and non-functional laboratories”, Dr. Harris sounded the alarm about the difficulty of controlling ongoing outbreaks of measles, malaria and dengue. Conditions are even more dangerous for children, she said, with about one-third of under five-year-olds now chronically malnourished. “Measles and malnourishment equals a death sentence for children under five,” she said.

Threat for women and girls

The situation is also particularly dangerous for women and adolescent girls, stressed Laila Baker, Regional Director for The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with 2.6 million women and girls of reproductive age requiring humanitarian assistance.

Some 260,000 women are now pregnant and almost 100,000 are expected to give birth in the next three months. But without critical services, including hospitals and safe delivery, “their lives and those of their children and the babies that are going to be the future generation are severely at risk”, Ms. Baker said.

The threat of sexual violence is an additional danger for women and girls, warned UN human rights office, OHCHR. According to spokesperson Liz Throssell, OHCHR had received credible reports of some 32 incidents of sexual violence against 73 victims by 2 August. This includes at least 28 incidents of rape. Men in Rapid Support Forces (RSF) uniforms were implicated in at least 19 incidents as perpetrators, but “the actual number of cases is likely much higher,” she said.

Ms. Throssell reiterated that the UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, had repeatedly reminded senior officials in Sudan that there is “zero tolerance” for sexual violence. “Perpetrators must be held accountable and such violence must be clearly and unequivocally condemned,” she said.

Possible war crimes

Adding to the calls for action, Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the war is “destroying people’s lives and their homeland and violating their basic human rights”.

He urged all parties to the conflict to “end the fighting, protect civilians, and give humanitarian organizations unfettered access” to all areas of Sudan. The attacking of civilians, looting of humanitarian supplies, and targeting of aid workers and hospitals throughout the past four months “may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

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Rights experts denounce idea of ‘reformed’ Taliban two years after return to power — Global Issues

The gap between promises and practices by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities has widened during this period, they said, denouncing the idea of a “reformed” Taliban.

They said Taliban policies imposed on the population “have resulted in a continuous, systematic and shocking rescinding of a multitude of human rights, including the rights to education, work, and freedoms of expression, assembly and association.”

‘Segregation, marginalization and persecution’

The experts cited consistent credible reports of summary executions and other violations, including acts tantamount to enforced disappearances, widespread arbitrary detention, torture, and ill treatment, as well as arbitrary displacement.

Hardest hit are women and girls; ethnic, religious and other minorities; people with disabilities, displaced persons, and LGBTQ+ persons (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and others). Human rights defenders and other civil society representatives, journalists, artists, educators, and former government and security officials, are also affected.

“Despite reassurances by the Taliban de facto authorities that any restrictions, particularly in terms of access to education would be temporary, the facts on the ground have demonstrated an accelerated, systematic, and all engulfing system of segregation, marginalization and persecution,” they said.

Bans targeting women and girls

They noted that in comparison to last year, discrimination against women and girls has deepened, subjecting them “to total domination so egregious, that the collective practices constitute gender persecution, a crime against humanity”.

Last December, Afghan women were barred from working with humanitarian organizations, which was later expanded to include UN agencies. The Taliban also prohibited girls from attending secondary school. Recently, de facto authorities in several provinces reportedly stopped allowing girls over the age of 10 from attending school.

“Women have even been denied the ability to seek comfort in some of their own spaces such as beauty salons that were frequented and run by women, as these have been recently ordered to close,” the experts said.

Furthermore, promises for a more inclusive form of government did not materialize, the amnesty for former government and military officials is being violated, and guidelines to stop torture and ill treatment in detention centres are often ignored, among other concerns.

The de facto authorities also have introduced the use of cruel and undignified punishments such as stoning, flogging and burying under a wall in contravention of international human rights standards, they said, adding that “the concept of a “reformed” Taliban has been exposed as mistaken.”

End reprisals, uphold amnesty

The rights experts issued a six-point appeal that called for the Taliban to immediately reverse the treatment of women and girls, including allowing them to enjoy all human rights such as the rights to freedom of movement, participation in political and public life, and access to education.

The Taliban should also end reprisals against former government and security officials, as well as civil servants, and uphold the general amnesty. The appeal further called for ending arbitrary detentions and torture, ensuring that civil society and journalists can function without undue hindrance, and enforcing measures to prevent discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities.

Humanitarian needs soar

The experts also highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, which is occurring amid an economic downturn, with an estimated 16 million children not receiving basic food or healthcare. The situation is driving harmful practices such as child marriage, abuse, exploitation, and even the sale of children and body organs.

Nearly 30 million Afghans require assistance, an all-time high. However, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, recently reported that a $3.2 billion plan to support them faces a “critical funding gap” of $1.3 billion.

The experts feared that the consequences could include discontinuation of community-based classes, reduced food assistance, and closure of health facilities.

“Moreover, these dire conditions, compounded by a plethora of restrictions, and a lack of employment opportunities may lead to harmful coping mechanisms such as joining criminal or armed groups,” they warned.

“Many Afghans continue to leave the country out of desperation. While countries that are receiving Afghans should be commended, many Afghan refugees reside in host countries in desperate circumstances”.

Recommit to Afghanistan

The experts called for the international community “to commit to the people of Afghanistan with renewed vigour and increased unity”, if the situation is to change.

They urged decisive action that includes “ensuring political engagement with all Afghan interlocutors manifests a human rights centered and gender integrated approach”, bridging the humanitarian funding gap, and finding ways to provide aid that reaches the Afghan people directly.

Among the other measures called for are supporting investigation and accountability mechanisms for human rights violations, recognizing the treatment of women and girls by the Taliban as gender persecution, and stepping up commitment to Afghan refugees and migrants.

About UN rights experts

The 31 experts who issued the statement were appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on specific country situations or thematic issues.

They include Richard Bennett, Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan; Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls; Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education, and the members of the Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances.

Special Rapporteurs and other independent experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent of any Government or organization.

They are not UN staff and do not receive payment for their work.

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Top UN aid official in Ukraine condemns latest wave of indiscriminate attacks — Global Issues

Denise Brown issued a statement deploring the “indiscriminate” attacks impacting civilians and civilian infrastructure.

She stressed that people in the south, including in the Kherson and Odesa regions, had endured “a particularly harsh weekend” after reports that strikes left many civilians, including children, killed and injured.

An entire family, including an infant, were among the victims, according to media reports. Homes, hospitals and schools were also damaged.

Humanitarians also affected

“The attacks also affected humanitarians and our capacity to support those suffering the consequences of the war,” Ms. Brown said.

She reported that partners from the non-governmental organisation ADRA had to stop distribution of vital items after their warehouse and cars were damaged by shelling in the Kherson region.

“Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be respected – they should never be a target,” she stressed.

Last Thursday, Ms. Brown condemned a Russian attack targeting a hotel in Zaporizhzhya used by UN and NGO personnel, in which one person was reportedly killed and 16 injured.

Aid delivery continues

Meanwhile, the UN and partners continue to support people across Ukraine.

Last week, two inter-agency convoys delivered assistance to front-line communities in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

The convoys delivered bottled water, food, medicines, shelter materials, hygiene kits, and household items to support more than 15,000 people who remain in these areas.

Since January, humanitarians have delivered aid to more than 7.3 million people in Ukraine, where a total of 18 million people need support.

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UN welcomes release of five staff abducted last year in Yemen — Global Issues

The men – four national staff and a Bangladeshi citizen – were abducted in the southern governorate of Abyan on 11 February 2022 after returning from a field mission.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres was delighted to learn of their release, noting that available information suggests they all are in good health.

Mr. Guterres was “profoundly relieved that their ordeal and the anxiety of their families and friends have finally come to an end,” his deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said in a statement.

“The Secretary-General reiterates that kidnapping is an inhumane and unjustifiable crime, and calls for the perpetrators to be held accountable,” it said. “He also expresses his solidarity with other people still held against their will in Yemen.”

In good spirits

The UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly, also welcomed the development.

“I was extremely pleased to see for myself that the four Yemeni colleagues were in good health when I flew with them to Aden from Mukalla today,” he said.

Mr. Gressly reported that they all are in good spirits and in contact with their families. He thanked the Government of Yemen and others that helped to secure the staff members’ release and ensure their health during their lengthy captivity.

“While the entire UN family in Yemen is relieved that our colleagues are free, we also recall other UN staff are still held against their will in Yemen. We stand in solidarity with them,” he added.

© WFP/Mahmoud Fadel

Wheat flour is distributed to vulnerable families in Abyan, Yemen. (file)

The UN in Yemen

Yemen continues to face a protracted political, humanitarian and developmental crisis after more than eight years of fighting between pro-Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and Houthi rebels.

More than 21 million people – roughly two-thirds of the population – need support and protection, and the UN and partners are delivering essential humanitarian aid and development assistance.

Humanitarians are seeking $4.3 billion to reach 17. 3 million people this year, but the appeal is just over 30 per cent funded.

Meanwhile, a UN-led operation to transfer more than a million barrels of crude oil from a decaying supertanker moored off Yemen’s Red Sea coast, which began just over two weeks ago, concluded on Friday.

The floating, storage and offloading (FSO) vessel Safer has been permanently anchored for more than 30 years. Prior to the escalation of the conflict in 2015, it was used to store and export oil from fields around Ma’rib.

The fighting brought production to a halt and the FSO Safe deteriorated significantly in the absence of any servicing or maintenance, sparking fears of a major environmental disaster.

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Guterres concerned about health and safety of detained President — Global Issues

President Mohamed Bazoum and his family are believed to be living without electricity, water, food or medicine, according to media reports.

Release detained leader

The democratically elected leader has been detained since soldiers seized power on 26 July.

“The Secretary-General reiterates his concern for the health and safety of the President and his family and once again calls for his immediate and unconditional release and reinstatement as head of state,” the note said.

Mr. Guterres was also alarmed over continuing reports about the arrest of several members of the Government and urgently called for their unconditional release.

Mediation efforts continue

The UN supports mediation efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) towards restoring constitutional order in Niger.

The regional bloc was meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on Thursday to again discuss the crisis.

This follows an extraordinary summit held there on 30 July, where leaders issued a communiqué that called for President Bazoum to be returned to power within a week of the meeting.

ECOWAS had threatened to “take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order”, including use of force, and the ultimatum has since expired.

Supporting vulnerable people

The UN fears the crisis in Niger could impact the wider West African region and continues to underscore the need to ensure ongoing humanitarian support to some 4.3 million people in the country.

This week, the World Food Programme (WFP) assisted more than 12,000 people in the Maradi region in south-central Niger, UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Thursday.

Heavy rains and floods continue across the country which have affected some 38,000 people since June, and the Government and aid organizations are ramping up efforts to support them.

“Humanitarian partners are struggling with low stocks of supplies, due to the impact of closures of the border and the air space. This situation may affect food assistance for 2.8 million people in the coming months,” said Mr. Haq.

He added that the UN has obtained authorizations from the de facto authorities to carry out four flights by the UN Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS) from the capital, Niamey, to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to temporarily relocate 49 family dependents.

UNHAS flights had been temporarily suspended following the attempted coup in Niger because the air space was closed, along with territorial borders.

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De-escalate tensions in Amhara, international rights experts urge — Global Issues

On 4 August, the Ethiopian Council of Ministers declared a state of emergency in the region after, according to media reports, the regional leader said he was no longer able to contain a surge of violence between a local militia and the army over a disputed plan to absorb the regional security forces into the national army.

The International Commission of Human Rights Experts took note of the declaration of the state of emergency, adding that it required approval by the House of Peoples’ Representatives, as per the Ethiopian Constitution.

“Previous states of emergency have been accompanied by violations of human rights,” the Commission said in a statement on Thursday.

“[We] therefore urge the Government to strictly adhere to the principles of necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination in accordance with its international legal obligations under Article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”

The Commission also called on all sides to respect human rights and take steps to deescalate the situation and prioritize efforts towards a peaceful resolution of differences.

Amhara cannot bear another conflict

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the UN World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, raised an alarm over the humanitarian situation in Amhara.

“The people of Amhara cannot bear another conflict. WHO calls on all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and return to talks,” he said at a regular press briefing in Geneva on Wednesday.

According to WHO, almost two million people are in need of health assistance, and the situation is made more complex by the influx of refugees from the conflict in neighbouring Sudan.

The International Commission

The International Commission was established by the UN Human Rights Council in December 2021 to conduct an impartial investigation into allegations of violations of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international refugee law in Ethiopia committed since 3 November 2020, which marked the start of the conflict in Tigray.

The Commission’s mandate was most recently extended for a period of one year, until December 2023.

The body comprises three human rights experts appointed by the President of the HRC. The current members of the body are Mohamed Chande Othman (Tanzania, Chair); Steven Ratner (United States of America); and Radhika Coomaraswamy (Sri Lanka).

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UN condemns killing of presidential candidate in Ecuador — Global Issues

Fernando Villavicencio, 59, was shot dead after leaving a campaign rally at a school in the capital, Quito, on Wednesday evening, according to news reports.

Nine other people were injured, including a candidate for the legislature and two police officers.

The attack occurred just two weeks before the election on 20 August and amid an escalation of violence and crime.

‘Shocking criminal act’

The UN system in Ecuador called for an investigation “so that there is no sense of impunity, and to redouble efforts to stop this wave of violence that is sadly affecting all the country’s population,” said UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq, speaking in New York on Thursday.

From Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned what he called “this shocking criminal act”.

He stressed the importance of promptly carrying out a transparent, thorough, and independent investigation to hold those responsible to account.

Strengthen protection measures

“Violence against political candidates is a serious threat to the electoral process and the people’s ability to express their democratic will,” he said.

Mr. Türk recalled that in July he had expressed deep concern over the recent spike in violence in Ecuador, including attacks and threats against political candidates, other public figures, and journalists.

He said the incident underscored the challenges the country and people are facing amid the escalation.

“I urge the authorities to increase their efforts to strengthen protection measures for political candidates, public officers and journalists, and to protect people’s lives and personal integrity in line with international human rights standards to avoid the repetition of such a tragic crime,” he added.

‘Grave threat to democracy’: Guterres

In a statement issued on Thursday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the assassination of Mr. Villavicencio.

“Attacks of this nature represent a grave threat to democracy, and those responsible must be brought to justice,” it said.

Mr. Guterres expressed solidarity with the Government and people of Ecuador, especially the late politician’s family.

The Secretary-General also recalled his meeting with President Guillermo Lasso on 21 July, where they discussed the deterioration of security in Ecuador, the impact of organized crime, and the need to enhance national and international efforts to fight it.

“The United Nations stands ready to continue to support the Ecuadorian authorities with a view to addressing the violence in keeping with international human rights norms and standards,” the statement concluded.

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Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant initiates reactor shutdown following water leak, reports IAEA — Global Issues

The purpose of placing reactor unit 4 in cold shutdown is to investigate the exact cause of the leak and carry out necessary maintenance to repair the affected steam generator, according to a statement by Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General.

There was no radiological release to the environment, the statement noted, adding that over the next three days, the nuclear power plant will move unit 6 to hot shutdown to continue steam production.

Unit 6 had been in cold shutdown since 21 April to facilitate safety system inspections and maintenance.

“The IAEA team on the site will closely monitor the operations for the transition between the shutdown states of Units 4 and 6,” said Mr. Grossi.

Power challenges

The IAEA has been monitoring the situation at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant since the early days of the conflict. The ZNPP is controlled by Russian forces but operated by its Ukrainian staff.

Mr. Grossi reported that there were power disruptions on Thursday after the 750kV power line disconnected twice during the day.

The ZNPP had to rely on 330 kV backup line, to supply the electricity required, for example, to perform safety functions such as pumping cooling water for the plant; and there was no total loss of off-site power to the site and emergency diesel generators were not needed.

According to IAEA, the nuclear power plant has been experiencing major off-site power problems since the conflict began in February 2022, exacerbating the nuclear safety and security risks facing the site currently located on the frontline.

“The repeated power line cuts underline the continuing precarious nuclear safety and security situation at the plant,” Mr. Grossi said.

Availability of cooling water remains relatively stable, with measures to mitigate water loss from the cooling pond by pumping in water from the ZNPP inlet channel.

IAEA experts’ site inspections

IAEA experts at the nuclear power plant have also conducted multiple walkdowns in different parts of the site, including visits to spent fuel storage and reactor control rooms, the agency said.

In one of the visits, on Tuesday, to the main control room, emergency control room and other safety-related rooms, the team did not observe any mines or usual objects in the main control; but in the turbine hall of unit 2, they noted the presence of a number of military trucks parked in an area reserved for vehicle maintenance.

While the team did not observe mines or explosives in any new locations during the past week, they did confirm the presence of the mines previously observed on 23 July, IAEA added.

The experts were informed by ZNPP that a drone was spotted and intercepted near the city of Enerhodar on Wednesday, but confirmed it had no impact on the plant’s safety.

Meanwhile, IAEA teams at other Ukrainian nuclear power plants – Khmelnitsky, Rivne, and South Ukraine, as well as the Chornobyl site – reported air-raid alarms on Wednesday. They added that the safety and security at the facilities were not affected.

Attack targeting hotel in Zaporizhzhya

Also on Thursday, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine said that a hotel, frequently used by UN and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) personnel was hit by a Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia.

“It is utterly inadmissible,” Denise Brown said.

“The number of indiscriminate attacks hitting civilian infrastructure, killing and injuring civilians, have reached unimaginable levels – these attacks violate international humanitarian law,” she added, calling on Russia to stop indiscriminate attacks.

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Guterres warns against nuclear catastrophe risk in message to Nagasaki memorial — Global Issues

“We mourn those killed, whose memory will never fade. We remember the terrible destruction wrought upon this city and Hiroshima. We honour the unrelenting strength and resilience of the people of Nagasaki to rebuild,” he said.

New arms race

Yet despite the terrible lessons of 1945, humanity is now facing a new arms race as nuclear weapons are being used as tools of coercion, he noted.

He said weapons systems are being upgraded, and placed at the centre of national security strategies, making these devices of death faster, more accurate, and stealthier at a time of division and mistrust among countries and regions.

“The risk of nuclear catastrophe is now at its highest level since the Cold War,” he warned.

“In the face of these threats, the global community must speak as one. Any use of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. We will not sit idly by as nuclear-armed States race to create even more dangerous weapons.”

Strengthening disarmament efforts

Mr. Guterres stressed that disarmament is at the heart of his Policy Brief on a New Agenda for Peace, launched last month. It calls on Member States to urgently recommit to pursuing a world free of nuclear weapons, and to reinforce the global norms against their use and proliferation.

“Pending their total elimination, States possessing nuclear weapons must commit to never use them. The only way to eliminate the nuclear risk is to eliminate nuclear weapons,” he said.

The Secretary-General added that the UN will continue working with world leaders to strengthen the global efforts towards disarmament and non-proliferation, including through the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

NPT talks have been taking place at the UN in Vienna this month and will conclude on Friday. The treaty entered into force in 1970 and aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and further the goal of nuclear disarmament.

Tribute to survivors

Mr. Guterres also paid tribute to the survivors of the atomic bombings, known as hibakusha. He said their powerful and harrowing testimonies will forever serve as a reminder of the need to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

“I have pledged to do everything in my power to ensure that the voices and testimonies of the hibakusha continue to be heard,” he said.

He called on young people – the world’s future leaders and decision makers – “to carry their torch forward”, saying “we can never forget what happened here. We must lift the shadow of nuclear annihilation, once and for all.”

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Deal reached with Syria to reopen main border crossing from Türkiye — Global Issues

For the next six months, the Bab al-Hawa border crossing will be accessible and allow much-needed assistance to reach millions of people in northwest Syria.

Bab al-Hawa has been used since 2014, when the UN Security Council authorized cross-border relief deliveries “across conflict lines”. Around 85 per cent of aid deliveries have passed through Bab al-Hawa from Türkiye since then.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the decision, following talks between UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths and Syrian government officials, said UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq.

The agreement also involved authorization for the UN to use the Bab al-Salam and Al-Ra’ee border crossings for an additional three months, which originally opened earlier this year as part of the emergency response to the earthquake disaster that hit Syria and Türkiye in February.

Humanitarian Assistance in North Syria

This news comes as humanitarian needs are at an all-time high after more than 12 years of war and in the wake of the devastating double earthquakes that struck the region in February.

Almost 12 million people – more than half the population of Syria – do not have enough to eat and a further 2.9 million are at risk of sliding into hunger, according to the UN.

In June, Mr. Griffiths warned that “twelve years of conflict, economic collapse, and other factors have pushed 90 per cent of the population below the poverty line.”

UN humanitarians warned UN Security Council members earlier this summer that Syrians are facing an “ever worsening humanitarian crisis.”

© UNICEF/PAC

Trucks carrying essential humanitarian supplies travel from Türkiye through the Bab al-Salam border crossing, into northwest Syria.

Multilateral efforts

The northwest region is the last opposition stronghold in Syria, and aid has been delivered there from Türkiye through a cross-border mechanism first authorized by the UN Security Council in 2014.

In July 2023, an initial attempt to renew the agreement at the UN Security Council failed, due to a veto from Russia.

The first draft resolution, tabled by Brazil and Switzerland, called for a nine-month extension and included a paragraph on the expansion of crossline operations, increased funding, enhanced early recovery activities and humanitarian mine action.

Although 13 of the 15 countries in the Council voted in favour of the resolution, it was struck down by a no vote from Russia, one of the five permanent members. China, another permanent member, abstained.

The latest agreement will see the delivery of life-saving supplies to populations in the northwest – despite the worrying funding shortfalls that still hinder humanitarian response.

Ramesh Rajasingham of the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, said In July that “despite these severe vulnerabilities, the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for Syria is only 12.4 per cent funded.” He warned that in the absence of urgent funding, humanitarians will have to make “difficult choices again this year”.

The “unprecedented” funding crisis in Syria has also forced agencies like the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to announce vast cuts to aid provisions, including reductions to monthly food rations.

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