The UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, concludes visit to Al-Hasakeh [EN/AR]

Damascus, 10 July - The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) for Syria Adam Abdelmoula today concluded a three-day visit to Al Hasakeh Governorate.

This was his first visit to the Governorate. The RC/HC met with various stakeholders and visited several projects in the Governorate. The projects included life-saving interventions provided by humanitarian partners as well as longer-term programmes that tackle the core problems underlying the Syria crisis. He also visited refugee and internally displaced people’s camps, including Al Hol, where more than 41,000 people, 90 per cent of whom are women and children, remain today.

“The situation on the ground is heartbreaking,” said Mr Abdelmoula during his visit. “As humanitarian needs increase and the funding decreases, we must do things differently and focus on early recovery to break the cycle of dependency,” he added.

Al Hasakeh is experiencing severe water shortages. In addition, ongoing hostilities, civilian infrastructure destruction, climate shocks, continuous displacement and economic decline are among some of the critical issues people in the Governorate are facing.

While work continues towards a longer-term solution, humanitarian partners have installed 16 reverse osmosis stations in Hasakeh City. RC/HC Abdelmoula visited one of the stations to learn more about how it serves the people in the area.

In Al Hol camp, Mr Abdelmoula spoke with several residents who shared with him the difficulties they are facing. “My children lost their future,” said one woman resident of the facility.

“We must find a sustainable solution for Al Hol. It is imperative that the international community acts swiftly,” said RCHC during the visit.

On his last day of the visit, Mr Abdelmoula attended the reopening ceremony for the Al Qamishli National Hospital. During the ceremony, he underscored the importance of ensuring unfettered access to the facility for all residents of Al Hasakeh and the surrounding areas.

“The partners are doing an excellent job with very limited resources. We must find new ways of working and invest in long-term solutions that will help lift people out of poverty,” he said in conclusion of his visit.