Syria: joint statement on humanitarian aid
A joint statement about Syria from the Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Leader of the Opposition Ed Milliband.
More than 9 million people in Syria are suffering this Christmas, in desperate need of our help. 4 million of them are children – the equivalent of every primary school pupil in England. This is an urgent humanitarian issue that transcends the differences of party politics.
Our country has a long history of helping those in dire need. As a nation, we have already given £523 million – including many generous donations from members of the public. But even more is needed to cope with the scale of the suffering. The UN has recently launched a new call for £4 billion – the largest appeal in its history. Britain will give more – and we urge other nations to do the same.
At the same time it is vital that all sides now guarantee humanitarian access. Too many children are out of the reach of agencies like UNICEF and the health authorities. Britain helped broker the agreement at the UN Security Council for unhindered access. Now it is essential to ensure this is delivered – with secure routes to get the life-saving aid to all those who need it.
The fate of an entire generation of children hangs in the balance. We must all do everything we can to help them. There is no better New Year’s Resolution.