UN Secretary-General António Guterres, has announced a US$397 million humanitarian appeal to aid the people of earthquake-ravaged Syria, to help secure “desperately needed” relief for nearly five million people.

Mr Guterres, who disclosed this in an interview with UN correspondents on Tuesday in New York, said that aid “must get through from all sides” and the funding would cover an initial period of three months.

He said a similar appeal is being finalised for survivors across the border in Türkiye.

“In the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, the United Nations rapidly provided US$50 million through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), but the needs are immense.

“The Syria effort brings together the entire UN system and humanitarian partners and will help secure desperately needed, life-saving relief for nearly five million Syrians – including shelter, healthcare, food and protection,” he said.

The UN chief said providing the relief was the most effective way for countries to help the war-shattered country, which is still in the grip of a 12-year civil war.

He said the country needed support with much of the quake zone in the northwest border region, controlled by opposition fighters, with many living there displaced multiple times and already in a state of humanitarian crisis.

“We all know that lifesaving aid has not been getting in at the speed and scale needed,” the UN chief said, adding ‘with millions of people struggling for survival, homeless and in freezing temperatures’.

“We are doing all we can to change this but much more is needed.

“I have an urgent message to the international community: the human suffering from this epic natural disaster should not be made even worse by man-made obstacles – access, funding, supplies,’’ Mr Guterres appealed.

According to him, emergency and search-and-rescue teams have been deployed to assess and prioritise urgent needs and to provide life-saving assistance following the devastating earthquake near the Türkiye-Syria border.

“Aid must get through from all sides, to all sides, through all routes – without any restrictions,” he emphasised, noting that following Syria’s assurances on Monday, two extra crossings were now opened to allow more aid into the northwest.

“As we speak, an 11-truck convoy is on the move to cross through Bab Al-Salam with many more to come,” he said.

He called on all Member States and others in the donor community, “to fully fund this effort without delay and help the millions of children, women and men whose lives have been upended by this generational disaster.

“This is a moment for unity, for common humanity and concerted action.”

Asked if a Security Council resolution was needed to cement the bilateral agreement between the United Nations and Syrian authorities, Mr Guterres said the reality was that the crossings were open, and movement was taking place.

(NAN)