European Commissioner Georgieva on Syria’s 1000 days of crisis
Hopes are pinned on the second Geneva peace conference on January 22 to achieve the political solution needed to bring an end to the crisis in Syria, Bulgaria’s European Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said in a December 8 statement to mark the 1000th day of the Syrian crisis.
Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, said that the Syrian conflict had become the most disastrous humanitarian crisis in decades.
“One thousand days of violence which has resulted in tens of thousands of men, women and children losing their lives, millions being displaced in the country and beyond its borders in search of safety. One thousand days of death, fear, hardship, deprivation and despair. One thousand days in which we are witnessing the creation of a lost generation.”
This tragedy must end, and this can only be done politically, Georgieva said.
“Our hopes, and especially those of the suffering Syrians, are now pinned on the second Geneva peace conference due to take place in Geneva on January 22.”
She reiterated her plea, “and that of the entire international humanitarian community, for the parties involved in this terrible conflict to facilitate humanitarian access to all those in need, to protect civilians and to respect international humanitarian law.”
“Until that elusive peace is attained, Europe will continue to shoulder its responsibilities and its firm commitment to helping the Syrian people survive and the people of the region to cope with the crisis. So far we have provided two billion euros to save lives and reduce suffering. We will be there to support humanitarian efforts as long as it is needed,” Georgieva said.
(Photo: EC Audiovisual Service)