UN / SYRIA HUMANITARIAN

In her briefing to the Security Council today, UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Ursula Mueller highlighted the importance of cross border assistance for vulnerable people in Syria adding that, without the operation, “we would see an immediate end of aid supporting millions of civilians.” UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:33
• Production Date: 19 December 2019
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: URSULA MUELLER
• Corporate Name: OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA
• Subject Topical: HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 2517060
• Parent Id: 2517060
• Alternate Title: unifeed191219b

Description

STORY: UN / SYRIA HUMANITARIAN
TRT: 1:33
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 19 DECEMBER 2019, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, UNHQ exterior

19 DECEMBER 2019, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. Med shot, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ursula Mueller, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator:
“Without the cross-border operation, we would see an immediate end of aid supporting millions of civilians. That would cause a rapid increase in hunger and disease, resulting in death, suffering and further displacement—including across borders—for a vulnerable population who have already suffered unspeakable tragedy as a result of almost nine years of conflict.”
5. Med shot, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ursula Mueller, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator:
“Across the country, I urge all parties — States and armed groups — to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure and to facilitate humanitarian activities without hindrance. For humanitarian reasons and as a matter of international humanitarian law, human suffering must be minimized.”
7. Med shot, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ursula Mueller, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator:
“Syria’s currency has lost half of its value this year. The factors behind recent economic shocks may be debated, but basic indicators present a concerning economic outlook for civilians in Syria: the cost of living grows, income stagnates, and currency loses value.”
9. Wide shot, Security Council

Storyline

In her briefing to the Security Council today (19 Dec), UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Ursula Mueller highlighted the importance of cross border assistance for vulnerable people in Syria adding that, without the operation, “we would see an immediate end of aid supporting millions of civilians.”

Mueller said stopping the cross-border operation would cause “a rapid increase in hunger and disease, resulting in death, suffering and further displacement—including across borders—for a vulnerable population who have already suffered unspeakable tragedy as a result of almost nine years of conflict.”

The Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator said the situation in northwest Syria remains alarming with civilians living the consequences of the continue violence. She added that the UN humanitarian office (OCHA) received reports of families in Idleb burning tires, old clothes, and other household items to stay warm.

WFP has increased the number of people to be assisted via its cross-border modalities to over one million people per month and tens of thousands received supplies, services and support, such as education materials, non-food items, clean water, shelter, emergency nutrition, and winter supplies.

Mueller recalled the UN Secretary-General’s warning that a full-scale military offensive in northwest Syria would result in a devastating humanitarian cost.

The UN official added that the situation in northeast Syria also remain serious even as hostilities have decreased in recent weeks. She said rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access remains essential for all facets of the ongoing humanitarian response in the northeast.

SOUNDBITE (English) Ursula Mueller, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator:
“Across the country, I urge all parties — States and armed groups — to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure and to facilitate humanitarian activities without hindrance. For humanitarian reasons and as a matter of international humanitarian law, human suffering must be minimized.”

Muller stressed that the UN projects the scale of humanitarian needs in Syria will remain vast in 2020, with some 11 million people expected to need regular humanitarian assistance, including five million in acute need of assistance. She said much more support is required to sustain humanitarian operations in Syria and neighbouring countries.

Mueller noted that the economic situation across Syria stands to compound humanitarian needs. She added, “Syria’s currency has lost half of its value this year. The factors behind recent economic shocks may be debated, but basic indicators present a concerning economic outlook for civilians in Syria: the cost of living grows, income stagnates, and currency loses value.”