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UN urges humanitarian partners to support Syrians

DOHA, June 14 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary General's Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs Ahmad Al-Muraikhi said Wednesday humanitarian partners should seek to turn pledges into genuine support to Syrians.
Addressing the 10th meeting of senior donors of Syria, which kick-started in Doha today, the UN envoy said Syria is in dire need of medics in order to address complicated health challenges, warning that at least seven million Syrians are being affected by food insecurity in this war-hit country.
He said the Brussels meeting held in April to alleviate the effects of the Syrian crisis came up with pledges worth USD 6 billion for 2017, along with additional aid worth USD 3.7 billion for 2018-2019.
He complained that the Syrian humanitarian crisis is seriously impacting on human and medial relief teams in a country where only 50 percent of health facilities are operating.
The UN humanitarian envoy also called for giving all relief teams access to all violence-hit areas in Syria, adding that more than 13.5 million Syrians need urgent help.
Many regional and international organizations and donors, including the State of Kuwait, are participating in the 10th meeting of senior donors of Syria.
On his part, Secretary-General of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ahmad Al-Hamadi elaborated on Qatar's humanitarian and development efforts in Syria since the outbreak of the six-year crisis.
He said his country has provided humanitarian and relied aid valued at over USD 2 billion, in addition to pledges worth USD 1.6 billion. (end) nnd.mt