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UN Says More Than 9 Million Syrians Need Humanitarian Aid


UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos (file Photo)
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos (file Photo)
The United Nations says about 40 percent of the Syrian population now need humanitarian assistance.

UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos told the UN Security Council on November 4 that the Syria crisis "continues to deteriorate rapidly and inexorably."

Amos’s spokeswoman Amanda Pitt quoted her as saying the number of those in need has risen to 9.3 million, up from 6.8 million in September.

More than half of them are people living in Syria displaced by conflict.

Amos urged the Security Council to "put its full political weight with both the regime and opposition parties" to ensure access for humanitarian personnel and supplies.

The UN estimates that more than 2.8 million people have fled Syria since the unrest began in March 2011. More than 100,000 people are estimated to have been killed.

In Geneva on November 5, UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is to hold talks with U.S. and Russian diplomats aimed at paving the way for a Syria peace conference.


Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa

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