UN calls for more support for Syrians, region

BRUSSELS, April 24 (KUNA) -- Top United Nations officials called Tuesday on donors and the international community to pledge more funds to help the Syrian population and refugees.
"In the first few months of 2018 the humanitarian crisis in Syria has further worsened. Over 700,000 people have been displaced by violence and acute need, many more than once, since the beginning of the year.
Nearly 70 percent of the population are now living in extreme poverty," the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, told he opening session of the Brussels II conference on Syria.
"Over the next two days we want Syrians to know that they are not forgotten; that we are trying to find better ways to help them in this terrible situation.
"We call on donors to pledge funds to assist and protect Syrian families wherever they are. Despite fighting, bombing and violence, we will not give up," he stressed.
On his part UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grand said "a quarter of the world's refugees are Syrians, and a quarter of all Syrians are refugees." "Of all the humanitarian emergencies facing us today none match Syria's in terms of scale or in the immensity of need. Whether for refugees, for host countries, or for host communities those needs are as urgent, as great, as ever." The conflict in Syria continues to drive the largest refugee crisis in the world - over 5.6 million Syrian refugees registered, and over 2.6 million of them are children - in a region faced with deepening economic, social, and development challenges, said Achim Steiner, UNDP administrator.
"Host countries have demonstrated outstanding generosity to Syrian refugees for many years despite the huge pressure on national services and infrastructure, and the international community must enhance their support for longer term development efforts to these countries on the front line who have been providing a global public good," said Steiner.
The EU is hosting the second Brussels Conference "Supporting the future of Syria and the region co-chaired together with the United Nations today and tomorrow.
Today's meeting is focussed on dialogue with Syrian NGOs and partner countries. The main ministerial plenary sessions will be held on Wednesday.
EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn in his opening remarks said "today we will show that despite all reasons for despair, we will continue to keep open avenues for hope." "We will work - together - to make a difference to individuals' lives wherever we can. And we will try to support the host countries to shoulder the enormous responsibilities they have taken on all our behalf," he said.
On his part, EU Commissioner for humanitarian aid, Christos Stylianides said "NGOs are present on the ground every day.
In Syria and the region. Very often, under dangerous circumstances. To respond to one of the most dramatic and complex crises of our time." "I want to pay tribute to each and every humanitarian worker and volunteer, doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers, psychologists, (and) engineers. In Syria, in Jordan, in Lebanon, in Turkey. Wherever Syrian refugees have gone for safe haven," he added. (end) nk.sd