The UN is accused of complacency amid Syrian government interference in the delivery of humanitarian assistance, including blocking aid to besieged rebel-held areas, removing medical aid from convoys, and marginalising humanitarian workers for political reasons.
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Besides suspending participation in the programme, in which groups share information to help in the delivery of aid across Syria, the letter’s signatories also called for a transparent investigation into the “political impact that the Syrian government has on humanitarian actors”.
A total of 73 aid groups, including the Syrian Civil Defense, which operates in Syria’s opposition-held territory, and the Syrian American Medical Society, accused some United Nations agencies of shaping their decisions in accordance with the political will of the Syrian government and allowing it to interfere in the delivery of aid by inter-agency convoys, The Guardian newspaper reported, citing a joint letter written by the alliance.
Insurgent forces including jihadist groups had captured the Ramousah area in August, breaking the siege on eastern Aleppo imposed by government forces in July.
A spokesman for the UN, Stephane Dujarric, rejected those assertions and earlier press reports that some UN aid contracts had gone to close allies of the Syrian regime. “The people of Syria have suffered even more as a result”. The United Nations dismissed any accusations, stressing that it can only work with partners approved by the Syrian government.
“We can not shoot our way through roadblocks”, Dujarric said. “The goal is and will remain to deliver as much humanitarian aid as possible”.
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The UN says it hopes to be able to continue to “engage” with the aid agencies who no longer want to work with them, according to a statement provided to France 24. He also stressed that the United Nations has “never been shy in raising our voices” when issues arise including the governmental removal of surgical items from aid convoys and blocking permission to deliver aid.
