Amos cautions against militarization assistance in Syria

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos on Thursday warned against armed intervention to provide much needed assistance to the besieged Syrians in Homs and elsewhere in the country. In a letter sent to all Member States, including France whose Foreign Minister Alain Juppe called for safe corridors to provide such assistance, Amos said "we must avoid militarization of humanitarian assistance". Trying to win Damascus on her side and to OK her proposed trip to the country, she added "I believe that negotiated access is the most effective approach, and caution against calls for military interventions in support of humanitarian action, including to secure corridors and buffer zones. This would place vulnerable people and aid workers at further risk". She noted that the call by the International Committee on the Red Cross (ICRC) for a daily pause in hostilities "must be echoed by all of us" so that the sick and injured can be evacuated and the urgent supplies be distributed. "We are all committed to responding to the needs of the Syrian people. Your support to urge both the Government of Syria and the opposition groups to uphold their responsibility to grant the safe and unhindered passage of humanitarian personnel and assets to all affected areas will be very important, " she stressed. She said the Syrian Arab Red Crescent Society has an "extensive network throughout the country and has been able to access towns with the greatest needs" with UN help and provisions. Despite that, she noted, "much more needs to be done. Securing access to the towns most affected by the fighting is the UN highest priority," and "the Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria has continued to press for unhindered access for humanitariran supplies with the Syrian Government and others engaged in the fighting". She also suggested participation in a "Syria Humanitarian Forum" which will provide donors and operational agencies the platform to share information and mobilize funding for priority needs, adding that in the meantime she will release some funds from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to provide emergency assistance. She did not specify the amount. She said she intends to travel to Syria, at the request of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, at the "earliest opportunity" to further discuss with the Government to gain access to the besieged areas. In a related matter, the French and Russian delegations are working separately on two competing draft resolutions on the humanitarian situation in Syria, to be introduced in the Security Council in the next few days, diplomats said. As to the UN Special envoy for Syria, the name of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has been tossed, but nothing is official, a UN spokesman said.