+Humanitarian+Chief+Valerie+Amos.PNG) |
| UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos [PHOTO: UNifeed] |
New York: United Nations (UN) Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos called
on world leaders to stay focused on the humanitarian agenda as they prepare to
gather for the annual General Assembly debate.
Calling 2012 "a very sober year for the General
Assembly," Amos said that while the international community is still very
focused on the situation in Syria, there are many crises that continue to
affect millions of people in various parts of the world.
This year alone, humanitarian organizations have asked for
nearly US$9 billion to provide aid to more than 50 million people in 19
countries. So far, they have only received half of the funds.
Last month, Amos visited Syria for the second time in 2012
and met with government officials as well as aid workers from the Syrian Arab
Red Crescent and the UN Refugee Agency to assess the situation and push for
more access to people in need.
Talking about what she had witnessed during her two-day
visit, she said "I have been shocked at some of the brutalities from both
sides who are engaged in this conflict and the way that civilians have been
targeted."
The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to
deteriorate, with some 2.5 million people estimated to be in need of urgent
humanitarian aid, including 1.2 million displaced in some 470 schools and
public buildings. As displaced families continue to live in schools, thousands
of children might not have access to classrooms when school term starts in
mid-September, she said.
Amos said the situation in the Sahel also requires urgent
attention as the countries in that region are facing "a huge food
insecurity and nutrition crisis" which is "compounded by the
situation in Mali."
Fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels broke
out in northern Mali in January. The instability and insecurity resulting from
the renewed clashes, as well as the proliferation of armed groups in the
region, drought and political instability in the wake of a military coup d'état
in March, have led over 250,000 Malians to flee to neighbouring countries, with
174,000 Malians estimated to be internally displaced. -UNifeed