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21:07 GMT
NEW YORK, July 31 (KUNA) -- The United Nations said Tuesday that its special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, held constructive talks with senior representatives from Iran, Russia and Turkey during a meeting in Sochi, Russia.
The Secretary-General's spokesperson, Eri Kaneko, said the talks, based on Astana platform, focused on further progress in the implementation of a final statement of a meeting held in Sochi last January, particularly with regard to the establishment of a constitutional committee.
The meeting witnessed constructive consultations on the constitutional committee formation in line with the criteria set out in Security Council resolution 2254 and the final Sochi statement, as well as a set of other issues related to the establishment and functioning of the committee, Kaneko stated.
Kaneko noted that the Special Envoy is looking forward to holding formal consultations with Iran, Russia and Turkey in Geneva next September, in order to begin finalizing the constitutional committee membership.
Regarding the continued displacement in Syria, Kaneko pointed that the first half of the year witnessed the displacement of 1.2 million persons, stressing that the UN remains deeply concerned about the continued large-scale displacement in parts of Syria and its impact on the civilian population.
The UN continues to help the needy, especially the internally displaced, where last June it provided relief assistance to more than 400,000 people in northwest Syria, the spokesperson stated.
About Gaza, she explained that the lack of funding significantly affects the basic services for two million Palestinians, which would result in distribution of two thirds of fuel amount on 231 important facilities in August.
Due to lack of funding, emergency fuel distributions will end by mid-August, Kaneko added, stressing that there is an urgent need for about USD 4.5 million for the continuation of the operation.
She said that this shortage will affect the provision of basic services to more than 2,000 patients in hospitals.
Hospitals' closure would effect more than 1.2 million people, and a decrease in the performance of water and sanitation facilities threatens increase of water-borne diseases, Kaneko said. (end)
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