São Paulo – In Syria, 13.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance or protection, according to information released by the United Nations (UN). The head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha), Stephen O’Brien, has called attention this Tuesday (27th) for the deterioration of the conflict in the country and the growing number of internally displaced persons. <\/p>\n
According to Ocha, the number of people who require aid has increased by 1.2 million in only ten months. Since early October, 120,000 people were forcibly displaced in Northern Syria due to air and ground strikes. So far this year, 1.2 million people have been internally displaced in the country. <\/p>\n
Attacks were reported on five hospitals in the Hama, Aleppo and Idleb provinces, according to the UN. O’Brien said the situation has grown worse since the year began, and that tensions have built further in October. “Indiscriminate attacks on areas inhabited by civilians go unpunished,” he said. <\/p>\n
Despite the scenario, the United Nations reports that only 23 of 85 requests for passage of convoys carrying provisions were granted by the Syrian government. Less than half the missions cleared were actually carried out, due to lack of security guarantees from Syrian authorities or armed opposition groups, says the UN. <\/p>\n
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum<\/strong><\/p>\n