The United Nation’s aid chief has issued a strongly-worded appeal to world powers to revive a shattered ceasefire in Syria and put an end to the “massive human suffering” that has left millions of people facing desolation, death and starvation.
Stephen O’Brien told the UN Security Council on Thursday that it must not squander what he saw as an opportunity for peace in recently stalled talks in Geneva, and again called for unimpeded access to get aid to people trapped by renewed and fierce fighting in the country.
The number of humanitarian convoys crossing borders and fighting lines has increased.Deliberately deprived of food and medicine, many face the most appalling conditions of desolation, hunger and starvation,” he said.
He also criticised the Syrian government’s removal of medicine and medical supplies from aid convoys, calling the practice inhumane and warning President Bashar Assad’s government that those responsible for what he called unnecessary suffering and loss of life would be held accountable when the war ends.
Monitors and activists say about 200 people were killed in the city of Aleppo alone over the past 24 hours, including at least 14 who died when a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was hit.