Upon a joint initiative of UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), today, Thursday 18 October, the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa hosted a briefing about the humanitarian situation in Syria. The event was chaired by FAO Regional Representative, Mr. Abdessalam OULD AHMED.

The briefing, which has been presented by the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Mr. Radhoune Noucier (OCHA) and the Regional Refugee Coordinator for Syrian Refugees, Mr. Panos Moumtzis (UNHCR), has brought together a number of UN and international agencies, such as the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organization, World Food Programme, and the United Nations Fund for Population.

The meeting’s discussion has pinpointed the urgent need to improve the conditions of internally displaced people and refugees in Syria and in the neighboring countries, in view of the increasing humanitarian needs. Syria humanitarian assistance programme, in spite of a considerable scale-up of activities, remains seriously underfunded.

The meeting has provided an opportunity to reiterate the importance of separating the humanitarian assistance in Syria from political considerations as any lack of support in the current situation could have long-lasting implications for lives and livelihoods of the Syrian people.