United Nations Secretary General's Visit to Islahiye Refugee Camp, 7 December 2012
United Nations Secretary General's Visit to Islahiye Refugee Camp, 7 December 2012
Story, December 7, 2012
United Nations Secretary-General's Remarks to Press
Islahiye Refugee Camp, 7 December 2012
Good afternoon,
I am pleased to be here at Islahiye camp.
I have come to convey the strong solidarity of the United Nations.
Let me begin by thanking the Government and people of Turkey for their generosity and hospitality in hosting more than 135,000 Syrian refugees.
I am aware of the tremendous burden this places on the Government and society as ever more Syrians seek refuge outside their borders in towns, cities and refugee camps.
I also want to pay deepest tribute to the many humanitarian workers from the UN, Red Cross, Red Crescent and many other organizations who are performing such noble work in tremendously difficult circumstances.
I was in the Za’atari camp in Jordan this morning and I have come to Islahiye this afternoon to see the conditions for myself ... to learn more about the challenges ... and to listen directly to people’s concerns and hopes.
I have been shocked, humbled and deeply moved by the stories that families shared with me.
I met children whose simple request was to return home and live in safety and security.
So many have gone through so much suffering.
It is simply not right that people are being uprooted from their homes because leaders have not addressed legitimate demands for democracy, justice and equality.
Innocent Syrians are paying the price for this failure.
I have come to listen. But I am also here to say to the world: The slaughter in Syria must stop.
The military path is a dead-end. It only fills streets with more blood. It only fills camps like this with more tears.
I appeal to all sides – especially the government – to stop the killing.
Stop the violence in the name of humanity.
And I urge the international community – and in particular the Security Council – to stand united and act decisively to end this crisis.
Joint Special Representative Brahimi is working to achieve a Syrian-led political solution.
That is what Syria and all the families here need.
And it is what the region needs.
I am committed to doing all I can to make it happen.
I am also committed to ensuring that humanitarian needs are met.
We have seen a tripling of refugee numbers since July, and the numbers keep growing.
I am afraid that any serious escalation of violence in Syria will lead to a dramatic increase in refugee numbers.
International assistance is simply not keeping up with needs.
The Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan is only 50 per cent funded -- the Regional Response Plan even less so.
I call on all Member States, especially countries in the region, to ramp up assistance – both to the affected countries around Syria who are bearing the brunt of the refugee burden, and to the humanitarian agencies working on the ground.
On my return from Turkey I will discuss with agencies how we can provide humanitarian assistance in a more coordinated and effective manner.
I appeal to the international community: do not close your eyes while people are suffering.
We have to help. The people I have met today are mothers, brothers, fathers, sisters.
They are our family. Let us stand by them.
Thank you.
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