Press Briefing on Humanitarian Situation in Syria

Kevin Kennedy (right), Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, briefs journalists on the humanitarian situation in Syria. At his side is Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

• Categories: Media / Press Conferences
• Video Length: 00:30:59
• Production Date: 29 June 2017
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: STEPHANE DUJARRIC
• Corporate Name: OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA
• Subject Topical: HUMANITARIAN CRISIS; WAR
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 1921783
• Parent Id: 1921086

Description

Humanitarians have persisted at great costs – UN regional relief official
Also on Syria, Kevin Kennedy, the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, told journalists in New York of the scale of the suffering in the war-torn country.

Perhaps the most egregious feature of the conflict, he said, was the persistent bombing of hospitals and medical facilities.

In the first six months of this year, at least 96 such bombings have been reported, of which 60 have been confirmed by the UN. Fifteen doctors and nurses have lost their lives and dozens more have been injured.

“If you are a doctor or nurse – working particularly in opposition-held area – and go to work in a hospital or clinic, then you work in a building with a big bullseye [target mark] on its roof,” said Mr. Kennedy, who is finishing up his assignment.

Praising the efforts of UN, international and national non-governmental humanitarian workers, he said that they have stood their ground.

“[They] have stayed there despite being bombed, shot at, mortars landing around them on a weekly basis […] and despite suffering casualties […] and carried on at a great sacrifice,” he stated.