The world's largest Islamic body said on Saturday it was preparing humanitarian aid worth up to $70 million to help some 1 million people affected by violence during the year-long Syrian uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. The Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC), whose 57 members include conflict-stricken Syria, said last month it had received permission from Damascus to send such aid to Syria and would send a team to assess the population's needs.
A mission including members of the OIC and the United Nations, along with a Syrian government team, visited several provinces including Homs, Idlib, Deir al-Zor and Deraa, parts of which have seen some of the fiercest fighting, and issued a report based on their findings.
"The report showed that there is an urgent humanitarian situation with around one million people affected and that the urgent humanitarian program (will) cost, according to the OIC report, $70 million. Currently preparations are being made with regard to the program," OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu told a news conference in Jeddah. The aid will include food, medical supplies and financial support. Another assessment mission will look at the needs of countries hosting refugees, he added.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.