SWITZERLAND: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it is unable to cope with the huge aid needs in Syria

Record ID: 281574

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it is unable to cope with the huge aid needs in Syria
  • Date: 8th November 2012
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (NOVEMBER 08, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE U.N. BUILDING IN GENEVA WHERE THE PRESS BRIEFING TOOK PLACE U.N. FLAG VARIOUS OF PRESS BRIEFING WITH ICRC PRESIDENT PETER MAURER (SOUNDBITE) (English) ICRC PRESIDENT, PETER MAURER, SAYING: "We are in a situation where the humanitarian situation due to the conflict is getting worse. And despite the fact that
  • Embargoed: 23rd November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA3W30FY8Y0EZ6S00QOKYR1CB3T
  • Story Text: Humanitarian conditions in Syria have worsened to an extent that the main international agency deploying aid workers is unable to cope with the growing needs of civilians, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Thursday (November 08).

    "We are in a situation where the humanitarian situation due to the conflict is getting worse. And despite the fact that the scope of operation is increasing, we can't cope with the worsening of the situation", ICRC president Peter Maurer told journalists at a news briefing in Geneva.
    During September and October, the agency has imported food and medicine with 14 big lorries and has secured warehouses that are under ICRC and Syrian Arab Red Crescent control, but despite the increase in operations, the security situation makes it difficult for the ICRC to get access to many areas of the country.

    "It means that we have to see where you have an opportunity to do something and the fronts are moving, the fighting is moving, you have restrictions from all sides and you have considerations to take which escape any sort of reasonable modelling around what is happening in Syria at the present moment. That's the reason why I say, whenever a crack opens to do something, in a region which needs something, we will try to fill it," Maurer said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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