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STORY: GENEVA / SYRIA HUMANITARIAN
TRT: 2:58
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 23 JUNE 2016, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, UNHQ exterior
23 JUNE 2016, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Wide shot, stakeout
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Staffan De Mistura, United Nations Special Envoy for Syria:
“When are we going to have the intra-Syrian talks? Well, it will also depend on the discussions I will be having in New York and in Washington and in particular the debate at the Security Council where I will definitely ask their guidance not only about the urgent need of having a renewed intra-Syrian talks but also what are the best conditions for holding them in the best possible chances.”
4. Wide shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jan Egeland, Special Advisor to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria: “The Humanitarian Taskforce has been explained very clearly that the situation on the ground is bad and in many places worsening. We are working in active combat zones. We are working in cross-fire; local agreements have been broken down many places; conditions have worsened.”
6. Close up, photographer
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jan Egeland, Special Advisor to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria:
“You know, we are hanging in by our finger nails in these areas. If the fighting continues, it is not going to be possible to be able to keep up even the delivery we have today. So our appeal is to our colleagues in the cessation of hostilities working group and all of these countries’ members - Please get back on track with a cessation of hostilities, because that is needed for the humanitarian work.”
8. Close up, cameraperson
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Jan Egeland, Special Advisor to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria:
“We are very concerned however, now, in this situation of the four towns. They are Madaya and Zabadani in the south, besieged by Hizbollah and Government forces, and Foua and Kefraya up in Idlib, besieged by armed opposition groups. They haven’t had deliveries since the end of April. And it would be horrible for all of us if we are going to return to what was the situation when we started to work that people were starving in Madaya and elsewhere. The four towns agreement has been able to get back on track as has the agreement on Al-Ware.”
10. Close up, journalists
11. SOUNDBITE (English) – Yacoub El Hillo, United Nations Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria:
“People continue to suffer in Syria, and not only in besieged areas. Of course, there the suffering is most acute, because of the trapped situation where they find themselves for years. Siege must be lifted and it cannot be condoned as a tactic of war in this conflict in Syria.”
12. Close up, Jan Egeland listening
United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura said he aimed to resume the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva next month but that had not yet been determined. De Mistura called on the “United Sates of America and Russia to make a critical mass of progress on a deal for political transition in Syria.” Speaking to reporter in Geneva today (23 Jun) De Mistura said he would seek guidance from the Security Council next week on “the best conditions for holding them in the best possible chances.”
The last round of talks between the Syrian government and opposition halted at the end of April. A cessation of hostilities that had brought partial peace to much of Syria for two months largely broke down in the aftermath and the war has resumed in many areas.
De Mistura's humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland said it was explained to the humanitarian taskforce that the situation on the ground in Syria was bad and in many places worsening. He said humanitarian workers were working in active combat zones and “local agreements have been broken down many places.”
Egeland warned if the fighting continued, it would not be possible keep even the current rate of deliveries. He called on the negotiators to get the cessation of hostilities back on track because it was needed for the humanitarian work.
Egeland expressed particular concern regarding the towns of Madaya, Zabadani, Foua, and Kefraya which had not received aid deliveries since April. He said eight out of 18 besieged areas have been reached this month, and hoped to reach at least seven more in the next week.
UN Resident Coordinator in Syria Yacoub El Hillo said the humanitarian appeal for 2016 was currently funded at 20 percent and “saving lives in a war costs money”. He said people continue to suffer throughout Syria especially in the besieged areas. He said sieges must be lifted and “cannot be condoned as a tactic of war in this conflict in Syria.”
