SWITZERLAND: Syria truce would help step up humanitarian operations, The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says

Record ID: 280592

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: Syria truce would help step up humanitarian operations, The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says
  • Date: 13th April 2012
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (APRIL 12, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE ICRC HEADQUARTERS SPOKESPERSON OF THE ICRC, HICHAM HASSAN, TALKING TO JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPOKESPERSON OF THE ICRC, HICHAM HASSAN, SAYING: "Basically the ICRC and the Red Crescent were able to reach many areas affected by the unrest. If, obviously, a ceasefire was implemented today this will he
  • Embargoed: 28th April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA2UEKQ1GJC5XRXH3RTV2IXOR00
  • Story Text: Two ICRC convoys carrying food parcels, mattresses, blankets and other goods for about 12,000 people reached Homs this week, ICRC spokesperson Hicham Hassan said on Thursday (April 12).
    "Basically the ICRC and the Red Crescent were able to reach many areas affected by the unrest. If, obviously, a ceasefire was implemented today this will help us to continue doing our job in an easier, hopefully, manner," Hassan told Reuters TV. He said two more convoys carrying aid to Homs were planned during April.
    He said the agency was staying in contact with the Syrian authorities.
    "Obviously our initiative for a two-hour cessation of fighting still holds with the Syrian authorities because anytime we feel we are unable to do our job, help people, then we will contact the (Syrian) Minister of Foreign Affairs to request this pause," Hassan said.
    Syrian troops held their fire in the hours after a U.N.-backed ceasefire took effect at dawn on Thursday, casting a silence over rebellious towns they had bombarded heavily in recent days.
    But the lull did little to convince opposition activists and Western powers of President Bashar al-Assad's good faith in observing a peace plan agreed with international envoy Kofi Annan. In defiance of that deal, Syrian troops and tanks were still in position inside many towns, activists told Reuters.
    Assad's forces have killed more than 9,000 people in the past year, according to a U.N. estimate. Damascus says rebels have killed more than 2,600 soldiers and security personnel.
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