Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos, Statement on Syria

(New York, 13 April 2012) At least a million people remain in need of urgent humanitarian help in Syria. Even as the political and military situation evolves, the immediate priority for humanitarian organizations is to obtain unhindered access, especially to people in areas which have seen heavy fighting.

It is extremely important that negotiations to enable humanitarian organizations in Syria to deliver aid remain separate from other efforts to resolve the crisis.

It is also vital that we are able to make emergency humanitarian supplies and services available to people in a way that protects civilians and aid workers.

For further information, please contact: Amanda Pitt, OCHA NY, pitta@un.org, Tel. +1 12 963 4129, Cell +1 917 442 1810