UNITED NATIONS, Jan 18 (KUNA) -- Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos on Friday said the focus of the International Donor Conference on Syria to be held in Kuwait on January 30th will be to gather the USD 1.5 Billion to help Syrians inside and outside the country.
She told reporters following a briefing to the Security Council behind closed doors on the humanitarian situation in Syria that the Conference is "absolutely critical to start money coming through," adding that the USD 1.5 billion is for the next six months only.
She told KUNA that this Conference was focused on supporting the multilateral effort which is the USD 1.5 billion appeal of December 19, 2012.
She indicated that "we have not set a target as to what we expect out of the conference in terms of how much money.
She added that she did not expect Kuwait, as the host country of the Conference, to contribute more than anybody else just because it is hosting the Conference.
"I think that Kuwait as a result of hosting the Conference has demonstrated strong support for what we are trying to do in Syria. I am sure that Kuwait will contribute, but there is no expectation that just because one country is hosting (the Conference) that it would give more than anybody else. My appeal is to the international community to give generously," she insisted.
She also thanked Kuwait for the USD two million donation to her office earlier this week, saying "I am delighted that Kuwait is supporting our efforts." Amos also told reporters that she was concerned about the impact of the Syria conflict on its neighbours politically and economically.
She said she briefed the Council on the "vicious, indiscriminate" nature of the violence taking place there and the increasing level of sex violence and the increasing rape cases affecting many women.
She noted that international organizations can see what is going on in refugee camps but not what is going on inside Syria because access is difficult, adding that she will raise the issue with the Syrian authorities when she visits Syria again soon.
Her last visit to Syria was in mid-December.
Asked if the Council can do something on the humanitarian situation, even though it is deadlocked on the political issues, Amos said the members are united in concern on the humanitarian situation in Syria.
She indicated that she asked the members with influence in Syria, on both sides, to "make it clear that our humanitarian efforts continue to be independent, impartial, to make it clear we need to get to all Syrians wherever they are." "We will continue to engage with the government and opposition on access, but I would like the Council to do the same thing," she stressed. (end) sj.bs KUNA 190026 Jan 13NNNN