2014 ‘worst year’ of crisis for civilians in Syria — aid agencies

AMMAN — Despite three UN Security Council resolutions adopted in 2014 that demanded action to secure protection and assistance for civilians, humanitarian access to large parts of Syria has diminished and more people are being killed, displaced and in need of help than ever before, a report indicated.

The study was compiled and released by 21 humanitarian and human rights organisations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council, which sent the document to The Jordan Times on Wednesday.

The report, titled “Failing Syria”, said warring parties and powerful states have failed to implement UN resolutions leading to the “worst year” of crisis for civilians in Syria.

The unanimously adopted UN Security Council Resolution 2139 at the end of February 2014 called for an urgent increase in access to humanitarian aid in Syria and demanded that all parties immediately cease attacks against civilians, end arbitrary detention, kidnapping and torture, and lift the sieges of populated areas.

In July and December 2014, the UN Security Council adopted two additional resolutions, 2165 and 2191, which among other things authorised UN aid operations into Syria from neighbouring countries without requiring the consent of the Syrian government.

The report said that 2014 has seen 76,000 people killed in the conflict out of a total of at least 220,000 deaths over four years.

The report also said that aid access has not improved with 4.8 million people residing in areas defined by the UN as “hard to reach”, 2.3 million more than in 2013.

The findings by the aid agencies indicate that 5.6 million children are in need of aid, a 31 per cent increase since 2013. 

The report also indicated that the humanitarian funding has decreased compared to needs. In 2013, 71 per cent of the funds needed to support civilians inside Syria and refugees in neighbouring countries was provided. In 2014, the per centage declined to 57 per cent.  

“The bitter reality is that the Security Council has failed to implement its resolutions. Last year was the darkest year yet in this horrific war. Parties to the conflict have acted with impunity and ignored the Security Council’s demands; civilians are not protected and their access to relief has not improved,” said Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council Jan Egeland. 

The humanitarian organisations called on UN member states, including the permanent members of the Security Council, to go beyond words and ensure the resolutions are fully implemented.