United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (R) speaks during a press
conference at the Quru Gusik (Kawergosk) refugee camp, 20 kilometres
east of Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern
Iraq, on January 14, 2014. AFP PHOTO / SAFIN HAMED
The United Nations has admitted that the
conflict in Syria is “raising tension across the region” as more and
more citizens flee to neighbouring countries.
In an
opening statement at the conference of donors in Kuwait City, UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said the country “has seen the worst use
of violence and destruction.”
He called on the
international community to intervene but remained adamant that only a
political solution will resolve the problem.
“Some of the scenes from Syria are heart-wrecking. The people of Syria need us to prove that the world stands with them now.
“Humanitarian efforts can save lives but cannot resolve the conflict which is raising tensions across the region,” he added.
Donors including the US are meeting in Kuwait City to try and boost financial aid for charity organisations in Syria.
3 MILLION REFUGEES
On
Wednesday, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah pledged
$500 million (Sh42.5 billion) in a drive that the UN intends to raise
$6.5 billion for humanitarian aid this year. The US has also pledged
$380 million (Sh32.3 billion).
Unhcr boss Antonio
Guterres said the agency needs $4.2 billion to help refugees from Syria
But the United Nations estimates that at least 3 million Syrians have
sought refuge in neighbouring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt
and Turkey with devastating effects both to the region.
A
UN survey in December revealed that while the fighters inside Syria are
blocking the flow of aid and shelling residential areas for civilians,
host nations for refugees are spending billions to harbour them.
In
what may indicate the damage conflicts cause to the refugee hosting
countries anywhere, the UN admits that apart from the social brushes
between newcomers and the hosts, countries have had a slight drop in
their economies.
“No country, no people should face
hardship or calamity for helping Syrians in need. It is vital for this
region and our world that the burden is shared,” he said.
In
Jordan, at least $3 billion (Sh255 billion) have been spent by that
government to provide amenities to the refugees. In Lebanon, the UN said
refugees helped slow the GDP growth by about 3 per cent.
Major
peace talks between the key players in the Syrian conflict,
incidentally to be facilitated by Iran, are expected to start next week
in Switzerland but some of the opposition rebels have indicated they
will not attend.
ARAB UPRISING
On
Wednesday, the UN Chief said he hoped that the talks that start on
January 22 will see both the Bashar al-Assad government and the numerous
splinter groups to the table.
Ki-Moon termed the talks as an opportunity to establish a temporary government that would bring the chaos to an end.
Syria
was one of the countries in the Middle East that experienced the
popular Arab Uprising but while Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt have are
seeing shaky transitions, Bashar al-Assad has resisted an ouster.
Last year, he was compelled to destroy chemical weapons after UN investigators found they had been used on civilians.
The donor conference though, the second in a year, has demonstrated the regional resolve to aid a failing state.
Qatar
gave $60 million, Iran ($13 million), Saudi Arabia ($250 million),
Middle East charity organizations gave $400 million. The United Kingdom
has also pledged £100 million as Finland gave $7 million.
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