Conclusion of a Joint OIC-UN Humanitarian needs assessment Mission to Syria

The Joint OIC-UN humanitarian needs assessment mission to the Syrian Arab Republic concluded its field mission on Monday, 27th March 2012 after visiting the governorates of Homs, Hama, Tartus, Lattakia, Aleppo, Idlib, Rakaa, Deraa, Der Azor and Rural Damascus, respectively. Members of the joint OIC-UN humanitarian needs assessment mission gathered relevant humanitarian information on number of affected families, relocated ones and also various constraints they face on the ground in meeting their basic needs when it comes to shelter, food items, non food items and medical assistance. The joint mission also noted that most affected people and their families were having difficulties in procuring food and other non-food items due to the socioeconomic crisis prevailing in the country brought about by social strife and declining economic activities. More importantly, members of the joint mission noted that hosting families, charity organizations and communities’ leaders have been playing a crucial role since the beginning of the crisis in alleviating the hardship of the affected approximately estimated at 1 million people who are in need of humanitarian assistance. In this vein, the OIC General Secretariat calls on all OIC Member States and the international community as a whole to come forward to assist the affected people in Syria, in compliance with the lofty humanitarian principles which will guide the humanitarian campaign it is due to launch in various fields such as health, food distribution and livelihood schemes. The OIC General Secretariat would like to avail this opportunity to express its readiness to closely work with the Government of Syria and other humanitarian stakeholders so as to assist the affected population in the provision of the much needed humanitarian assistance. Finally, the OIC General Secretariat would like to express its gratitude to the State authorities and to the people of Syria for allowing this important visit to take place and also for facilitating access to various areas grouping both affected and relocated families despite constraints prevailing on the ground.