Syria is facing a new crisis. The earthquakes of February 6 killed and injured thousands in Syria, left tens of thousands homeless, and destroyed areas already shattered by almost 12 years of devastating conflict.
Even before the earthquakes, over 4.1 million people in northwest Syria required humanitarian assistance. Russian vetoes at the United Nations Security Council had long prevented UN operations from adequately addressing existing needs on the ground, which have only worsened over the years.
It took too long for aid to reach those who needed it most in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. This failure could have been avoided had northwest Syria not been cut off from the outside world.
While people were dying, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad waited a week to agree with the UN to use two additional crossings from Türkiye to supply vital assistance into northwest Syria. Although UN assistance is now moving through these crossings, much more is needed.
The UK has long pushed for greater humanitarian access and the international community must work together to put the needs of the Syrian people first.
To get assistance quickly and fairly to those who need it, going via the Syrian regime is not an option. Over nearly 12 years Assad and his cronies have consistently used aid as a political weapon and we will not forget their use of barrel bombs, chemical weapons, and systematic torture in attempts to break the Syrian people.
Reports of aid diversion and artillery shelling in areas outside Syrian regime control after the earthquakes, further demonstrated that Assad cannot be trusted to deliver aid to his own people. The world should not turn a blind eye to these continued abuses.
The earthquake should also prompt ceasefires in all the conflict affected areas of Syria so the focus can be on getting humanitarian aid to those who need it. The Syrian people deserve peace, and help.
The initial agreement to open additional border crossings is a welcome, essential step, but it must not be temporary. Access needs to be secured in the longer term to improve humanitarian conditions in northwest Syria.
I cannot imagine what the people living in Syria have experienced over the past two weeks. Our priority now is making sure life-saving assistance quickly reaches those most in need.
The UK has taken action. We immediately increased funding to our long-standing partner, the heroic White Helmets, to enable necessary search and rescue efforts on the ground. White Helmet operations reached 60 villages across 182 locations in northwest Syria helping thousands of civilians. This work saved lives.
As the crisis response transitions from search and rescue to more medium-term efforts, the additional £4.3 million that the UK sent to the White Helmets, on top of the £2.25 million we have given in the last year, will support essential delivery including assessing building safety, reopening roads and reconnecting utilities for those in affected areas.
The British public have demonstrated their solidarity with the Syrian people too, donating more than £88 million to an appeal for support to Syria and Türkiye so far, matched by £5 million in additional UK Government funding.
But more is needed. We are listening to our Syrian partners on the ground and are ramping up our efforts to deliver aid in response to their needs.
Further significant UK support, announced last Wednesday, includes assistance to meet immediate needs including family tents and blankets for those exposed to harsh winter weather or displaced from damaged housing, childbirth support and steps to reduce the risk of violence against women and girls.
The UK is also helping children through education, on top of existing programs. A rapid return to safe schools gives children much needed protection and critical access to psychosocial support. The UK is a leading donor to the “Education Cannot Wait” UN global fund, which is providing $7 million in emergency funding to respond to the crisis.
And we are working closely with the UN, International and local NGO partners to mobilize further UK and international support to ensure that aid reaches the millions in need.
The UK is a long-standing supporter and advocate for the Syrian people. Since 2012, the UK has provided over £3.8 billion to the regional Syria Crisis, our largest response to a single humanitarian crisis, and we have stepped up our support again to help Syrians facing this latest tragedy.
This crisis must be a wake-up call. Actors inside and outside of Syria, above all the Assad regime, must focus on the pressing and dire humanitarian situation being faced by survivors on the ground right now. These survivors have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods and cannot wait any longer to receive help.
The UK will not cease in its efforts to bring relief and dignity to those in need; we will work with the Syrian people over the coming days, weeks and months to demonstrate that the UK will not forget them.
*Exclusive to Asharq Al-Awsat
