World Vision Calls for Better Access to Deliver Aid in Syria

MILTON KEYNES, U.K. - Jan. 23, 2014 - PRLog -- As the Syrian Government meets for the first time with representatives from the Syrian Opposition, at Geneva II, World Vision is calling on the parties to remove the obstacles preventing humanitarian aid reaching children in desperate need.

Jules Frost, a Senior Humanitarian Advisor, for World Vision International, who is in daily contact with our teams working to reach children and their families in greatest need, said:

“Agreeing a negotiated peace at Geneva II won’t be easy.

“However, parties to the conflict must abide by their obligations under International Humanitarian Law and ensure humanitarian aid reaches all those in need. We have seen where there’s a will, there’s a way. It is shameful that while access to remove chemical weapons can be gained, the same cannot be done to save the lives of millions of innocent children and their families.

“If the parties to the conflict cannot agree a comprehensive ceasefire at Geneva II talks, we need them to negotiate temporary cessations of hostilities in certain areas to allow convoys to move and the injured and malnourished to be evacuated,” added Ms Frost.

Justin Byworth, the Chief Executive of World Vision UK has just returned from the Kuwait donor’s conference where the mood of the international community was impatient for real progress.

Mr Byworth said: “Despite a statement from the UN Security Council in October on improving humanitarian access for Syrians, especially critical for hard to reach and besieged areas, progress has been poor.  The urgent need for action on this was a recurring theme. Justine Greening, the UK International Development Secretary, said "there are no excuses".

“If the parties meeting in Geneva cannot agree to cease hostilities and remove bureaucratic delays, they will leave themselves open to the accusation that they are using starvation as a weapon of war.”

World Vision have been campaigning and delivering aid to help refugees affected by the conflict in Syria since the conflict began and donations are still needed. You can give via worldvision.org.uk