Eurocommissaris Georgieva: 'Internationale gemeenschap moet oplossing zoeken om lijden Syrische bevolking te beëindigen' (en)
European Commission
MEMO
Brussels, 3 October 2013
Statement by Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner responsible for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response following the Security Council Presidential Statement
"I welcome the United Nations Presidential Statement regarding the humanitarian situation in Syria. It is a hopeful sign that the international community is firmly coming together to step up pressure on all sides of the conflict to provide unfettered access to the 7 million Syrians in dire need of humanitarian assistance. I congratulate the United Nations Security Council, and in particular Luxembourg and Australia who sponsored the Statement.
The Presidential statement is an important stepping stone. It comes two and a half years since the beginning of the conflict and it is no moment too soon for the clear actions it calls for to turn into reality. Since the beginning of the conflict, the humanitarian community has been asking for respect of International Humanitarian Law by all parties. It is crucial to ensure the protection of civilians, in particular children, and humanitarian personnel, as well as access to medical care. Bureaucratic hurdles to the delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance must be lifted.
The international community must find a political solution to this crisis and so end the terrible suffering of the Syrian people."
For more information
The European Commission's humanitarian aid and civil protection:
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm
The European Commission's humanitarian aid and civil protection in Arabic:
Commissioner Georgieva's website:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/georgieva/index_en.htm