Brasília – The president of the International Red Cross Committee, Jakob Kellenberger, called on Tuesday (8) for extra assistance of US$ 27 million (R$ 51.8 million) to maintain humanitarian help in Syria. According to him, the situation in the country is deteriorating rapidly, despite the cease fire mediated by the special envoy of the United Nations (UN) to the League of Arab States, Kofi Annan.
In a press statement, Kellenberger said that thousands of people are in need due to the conflict in the country, which has been going on for 14 months. He recommended that the United Nations (UN) observers responsible for monitoring compliancy with the cease fire observe other areas of Syria.
The wave of violence started in March 2011, with protests against Syrian president Bashar Al Assad. The protesters called for Assad’s resignation, the end of human rights violations and greater freedom of speech and press.
Kellenberger said that the Red Cross, in partnership with the Red Crescent non-governmental organisation, should distribute food and humanitarian aid. According to the Syrian Human Rights Observatory, in 14 months over 11,100 people died due to the violence.
*Translated by Mark Ament
