Can task force ensure humanitarian aid for Syrians?

On Friday the Task Force on Humanitarian Access in Syria met in Geneva to discuss plans for bringing life-saving supplies immediately into besieged areas. There are currently 500,000 Syrians who are starving in areas blocked off by the combatants of the brutal civil war.

Humanitarian relief agencies have been previously denied access to these areas. Jan Egeland, the director of the Norwegian Refugee Council, chaired the task force meeting.

Egeland says, “We have already submitted requests for access to the parties surrounding besieged areas. We expect to get such access without delay.” Egeland is an advisor to Staffan de Mistura, the UN Special Peace Envoy for Syria.

The Task Force was set up this week by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), a coalition of nations that are now committed to ending the war in Syria. The group includes the United States, Russia, Iran and many other nations.

Secretary of State John Kerry said after the ISSG meeting “Everybody today agreed on the urgency of humanitarian access.” Syrians are trying to live off leaves and grass in besieged areas, as there are no food supplies because of the war. Medical care is non existent.

The ISSG must now pressure the Syrian government and the opposition to allow food and other aid into all areas now under siege. The United Nations relief agencies and its partners will deliver the supplies. The humanitarian deliveries have to begin right away to save lives. Children suffer lasting physical or mental damage, or death from lack of food and nutrition.

A cessation of hostilities is to take place within a week between the warring sides, with the exception of terrorist group such as ISIS. The pause in fighting is expected to lead to a long-term ceasefire and peace talks to end the war. What’s left of Syria must be saved.

The five year civil war has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. The Middle East and Europe are overwhelmed by the number of refugees from the war.

Dropping the guns and sending in food will inspire hope for Syrians, which they have not had for five years. Egeland added, “the civilians who have been deprived of their basic right of humanitarian access for so long, will have hope. Let us not fail them.”