The Syrian Foreign Ministry calls for enhancing humanitarian response in the south and confirms facilitation of aid entry
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates held a meeting with UN leaders in Syria to discuss ways to enhance humanitarian efforts in the governorates of Sweida and Daraa, emphasizing the need to intensify support for the affected and improve coordination mechanisms with international partners.
The ministry stated: "We called for intensifying the humanitarian response in Sweida and Daraa, enhancing the flexibility of coordination mechanisms, and increasing communication with donor countries to ensure greater funding for relief programs," expressing appreciation for the World Food Programme's initiative to implement a comprehensive distribution system for food aid, which received approval from the Syrian government.
The ministry emphasized the "importance of accelerating the issuance of field needs reports to support mobilizing financial resources," noting that "the absence of these reports should not hinder humanitarian work, especially in light of the significant gap in the needs that have been identified."
In this context, the ministry denied the existence of any obstacles to the delivery of aid, stating: "The Syrian government has not imposed any restrictions on the entry of aid since the beginning of the crisis, and all convoys that have been dispatched through the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and UN agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross have moved without restrictions on the type or quantity of aid," clarifying that this aid included "food, medical, and relief materials, in addition to flour and fuel for operating ovens and communication towers."
The ministry revealed that "in coordination with humanitarian organizations and government facilitation, more than 12 convoys have been sent to Sweida in less than a month, at a rate of one convoy every two days," reflecting the high priority that the authorities have given to this response.
It added that "the roles played by humanitarian partners gain greater importance in light of the inability of government institutions to provide services in some areas," noting that it has granted permissions for the movement of more than 140 UN staff to Sweida and Daraa.
It is noteworthy that additional convoys will depart tomorrow and the day after to various areas of Sweida, accompanied by humanitarian teams and aid designated for the affected.
