The middle East

Syria: NGOs to stop working with UN

How much is the influence of the Assad government at the United Nations? Clearly too much, find 73 auxiliary organizations that do not wish to work longer, in an important communication program of the UN.

The accusation weighs heavy: The world organization is supposed to be for the death of the needy in Syria are partly responsible because they reacted too late or not at all on the appropriate Letter of support organisations. This is from a letter to the UN, the 73 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have signed it.

Among the listed cases, the lack of supply of the Siamese twins Moaz and Nawras On, the arrived in the occupied Ghuta to the world. On constant pressure from aid organisations, the children were moved to Damascus, where they were waiting for an Operation abroad. The United Nations does not have, however, responded to news of Syrian NGOs. Finally, the children had died without receiving help.

Help in Madaya – for many people, it has come too late

Also the death of 65 people in the middle of the Syrian crisis area, Madaya, the auxiliary organisations to complain. The former resort is located 40 kilometers from Damascus and, since 2014, the Hezbollah-occupied. The people there had been cut off from much-needed aid delivery, and miserably starved to death. As in other cases, it would have responded to the United Nations is inefficient, it says in the Letter. The reason, the organisations suggest in a close proximity to the Assad Regime: “many organisations, it has become clear that the Syrian government in Damascus has a significant and substantial influence on the United Nations and its partners”.

Millions of dollars paid

This allegation is not entirely new. Recently, had reported the British newspaper “the Guardian”, that since the beginning of the conflict, tens of millions of dollars of UN-organizations of institutions from the environment of the Assad regime are gone. Among the beneficiaries of both the business and people that are currently sanctioned by the EU and the USA, as well as government bodies or charities – including one that was launched by Assad’s wife, Asma al-Assad.

Dangerously close to Assad’s environment?

According to “the Guardian” about the world food organization (FAO), more than 13 million dollars (11.6 million euros) for the development of agriculture to the Syrian government, although the EU had imposed sanctions against the concerned ministries.

“A Clear Decision”

The United Nations to defend the co-operation with organisations from the environment Assad. Which is necessary in order to achieve in the war-torn country, the suffering of the population. “When it comes to choose goods or services through businesses that could be associated with the government, or to let the civilians without the necessary help, the decision is clear,” said a UN spokesman, the news Agency Agence France-Presse.

The Syrian government’s decisions, with whom the UN agencies should work together, the spokesman said. The United Nations would not accept this, it could save so many lives in Syria. Another UN representative admitted, however, that there is within the UN organisations uneasiness that the Syrian government in control of parts of the international relief supplies.

For the signatories of the letter, such as the “Syrian American Medical Society” (SAMS) and the “Syrian civil defense”, is now reaching a limit. They announced, in part, from the cooperation to withdraw. In the future you no longer want to participate in a communication platform of the UN. In the so-called “Whole of Syria”program, organizations help, where help is needed and how the-often difficult – lying areas – can best be met, exchange. The aid for Syria can be made significantly more efficient.

Billion program

UN spokesman Laerke: “It just goes to humanitarian needs.”

Now that is set to end, although this is from the point of view of the United Nations is incomprehensible, because it is from your point of view, relatively small sums of money. Jens Laerke, spokesman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) , told DW: “you need to look at things with a certain perspective. We operate with a 3.8 billion Dollar Budget in Syria.” The United Nations would not be controlled by the government. “But we have to keep to the international law,” said Laerke.

This means that even with all the parties worked together needed to be, including the government. “We can’t send UN-people in any country without a visa in the passport.” In addition, the United Nations would be “impartial”.

“It’s not about where people life, with which side in the Conflict, they sympathize, what ethnicity you have, anything else, it only goes to their humanitarian needs. That is the principle, what is not negotiable,” said OCHA spokesman.

Constant Dialogue

Other relief organizations like the Red cross need to work together with the Assad government. The spokeswoman Krista Armstrong told the DW that your organization cooperate necessarily with all parties. “We are in constant dialogue and try to remember that international humanitarian law must be respected and that the affected areas need access.” Important full transparency about one’s own actions.

Whether this was given at the United Nations, is unclear. Speaker Laerke hopes in every case to a quick return of the other aid organizations in the information exchange program. You stand with the bailed-NGOs are already in contact.