SYRIA: ICRC spokesman says the Red Cross is unable to enter the wrecked Homs district of Baba Amr for security reasons

Record ID: 280393

  • Title: SYRIA: ICRC spokesman says the Red Cross is unable to enter the wrecked Homs district of Baba Amr for security reasons
  • Date: 6th March 2012
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (MARCH 5, 2012) (REUTERS) INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) BUILDING PAN DOWN TO PARKED ICRC VEHICLE ICRC SIGN SALEH DABBAKEH, ICRC SPOKESMAN AND COMMUNICATION DELEGATE, SEATED AT HIS DESK DABBAKEH TYPING ON HIS COMPUTER POSTER IN BOOKSHELF (SOUNDBITE) (English) SALEH DABBAKEH, ICRC SPOKESMAN AND COMMUNICATION DELEGATE, SAYING: "We do h
  • Embargoed: 21st March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Health,Social Services / Welfare
  • Reuters ID: LVA4K2LC7YCES3VWR3JFSUQPBKUM
  • Story Text: A spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in Damascus on Monday (March 5, 2012) that the relief organisation's workers had not been able to enter the Baba Amr district of Homs, days after the Syrian army eliminated the opposition bastion in the central Syrian city following a 26-day siege.
    ICRC spokesman Saleh Dabbakeh told Reuters the charity had authorisation to enter the area but had been been preventing from doing so for security reasons.
    "We do have authorisation to enter Baba Amr but unfortunately we still have not been able. The cause, the reason, as we are told, is the security situation. I mean, like you, I have been reading the local newspapers for example that there are booby traps in some buildings. There are mines in some streets. There are explosives that have been planted here and there. We are not given that much details because the details I am getting from the local media. But the reason was mainly and continues to be mainly security reasons," Dabbakeh explained.
    However, ICRC workers have been able to distribute aid in Ishaat and Tawzi' Ijbari, parts of Homs near Baba Amr, to civilians, including families which had fled Baba Amr, he said.
    Dabbakeh said the Red Crescent and other Arab charities had been providing humanitarian relief since the start of the hostilities in the area.
    "Syrian Arab Red Cross and volunteers have been distributing assistance all along to people in various areas of Homs, like they never stopped since the crisis began and the need for such distribution started," Dabbakeh said.
    Dabbakeh said the ICRC is working in cooperation with Syrian Red Crescent to obtain permission to go enter Baba Amr in the next two days.
    Opposition activists have accused Syrian forces of carrying out bloody reprisals in Baba Amr, but their reports are hard to verify given Syria's severe curbs on independent media.
    Human Rights Watch quoted "local sources" on Friday as saying about 700 civilians had been killed and thousands wounded in Homs since a military assault in the city began on Feb. 3.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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