Mikdad, Griffiths discuss aspects of international humanitarian work in Syria

Damascus, SANA- Faysal Mikdad, Foreign and Expatriates Minister discussed on Sunday with Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, various aspects of the humanitarian work carried out by the UN and its agencies in Syria. Minister Mikdad congratulated Griffiths on assuming the position of Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and expressed his aspiration for positive and constructive cooperation between the Syrian government and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Syria, especially that the humanitarian needs of the Syrians are increasing as a result of the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the US and its Western allies on Syria. Mikdad stressed the need for the U N to transparently address the effects and repercussions of these coercive measures and their impacts even on the UN humanitarian missions in Syria, in addition to the need to confront the tragedy of cutting water to more than a million Syrians in Hasaka. The minister also underlined the importance of expanding humanitarian work in Syria to include early recovery and development projects that directly affect securing the basic services to the Syrian people in vital sectors such as food, health and education. For his part, Griffiths talked about his interest in securing the necessary funding for humanitarian work in Syria on the one hand, and working on moving towards more early recovery projects and securing basic services, especially in the fields of health and education. He considered that Syria is among the priorities of the humanitarian work in the UN , and that he looks forward to improving work mechanisms in a way that leads to strengthening cooperation and coordination in all these fields.