LOC20:49
17:49 GMT
PARIS, April 24 (KUNA) -- France on Tuesday stressed the "dramatic humanitarian situation" facing Syrian civilians after seven years of conflict that has already killed 400,000 people and made millions homeless, according to an official statement.
The Foreign Ministry said that it would be stressing the need to alleviate the suffering of Syrian civilians in a humanitarian conference that opens Wednesday in Brussels, aimed at raising more funds and finding solutions for the millions of refugees inside and outside the country.
State Secretary for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne will represent France at the "Brussels II" conference which will also examine ways to help Syria's neighbours, where millions of refugees have fled to escape the violence.
The French Foreign Ministry noted that Paris will also underline the support of the international community "for a political solution to the Syrian conflict," in addition to seeking to "reinforce the international response to the humanitarian consequences of the crisis and the support for refugees and their host countries.
"The humanitarian situation remains dramatic," the French statement said, pointing out that 13.1 million Syrians, among them six million children, are in need of humanitarian aid today.
In addition, more than half the Syrian population has been made refugees, over six million internal refugees, while and over 5.5 million have fled to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.
"The delivery of humanitarian aid is victim of unacceptable blockages, notably by the regime" in Damascus, the statement remarked.
Paris said that this crisis is "a priority for France" which has devoted USD 200 million in grants for the 2016-18 period for Syria and its neighbours.
President Emmanuel Macron also decided this month to allocate USD 61 million for an emergency response fund for Syria.
Meanwhile in Brussels on Wednesday Lemoyne is due to announce a new French commitment for grants for the 2019-21 period. (end)
jk.bs