United Nations organizations reduce support for NE, Syria camps

The co-chair of the Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Sheikhmos Ahmed, noted that the main United Nations organizations were reducing their limited support mainly for the Territory's camps.

Sheikhmos Ahmed explained that United Nations organizations in the region were moving in accordance with the policy of the Damascus Government, which was depriving the people of the territory, IDPs and refugees in the AANES areas of the camps of such assistance.

"Since the beginning of the new year, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has scaled back its support for the region, especially for camps it supports, and several days ago the World Health Organization (WHO) also followed in a new downsizing of its activities in North and East Syria and camps."

Ahmed noted: "Although there are significant gaps in their work on the mechanism and form of health assistance and services, they are essential to the siege and ongoing attacks in the region."

Ahmed stressed that the primary responsibility for providing services to camps in North and East Syria is that of United Nations organizations, as support through other local organizations is limited and insufficient, given the many camps, primarily those related to the health sector.

Ahmed noted: "The reduction in United Nations support for the North and East Syria camps and the discontinuation of its support for activities has significant repercussions that will negatively affect those who need them."

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned on Sunday, 31 March, in a statement, that cutting funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) would have serious consequences for all camp residents in north-eastern Syria, and stressed the need for their continued health care.

As to whether there is direct contact with organizations to find out the motives and reasons, Sheikhmos Ahmed said: "We have contact with all concerned parties directly or through NGOs present in the region. The arguments put forward are about the cessation of support from donors to the United Nations and the World Health Organization since the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war and Gaza."

On alternatives, the co-chair of the Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Sheikhmos Ahmed, said: "Alternatives lie in guiding the intensification of the work of health bodies and directorates in each canton to support the health sector in the camps in order to avert the spread of epidemics, especially with the advent of summer and lack of clean water."

Ahmed stated: "There have been several other parties supporting the canton of North and East Syria with medicines, but they have also significantly curtailed its work, the siege suffered by the territory from several parties, and the closure of the crossings in the forefront of Tal Kochar, it is difficult to secure the region's need for medicines because they are imported from abroad as well as other medical equipment."

T/ Satt.

ANHA