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"I would like to pay tribute to the enormous courage of the volunteers of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the staff of the UN who carried out a humanitarian evacuation effort of civilians as well as an aid delivery operation in Homs in the most dangerous of circumstances.
This shows that even in the darkest of nights it is possible to offer a glimmer of hope to people in desperate need of assistance.
I am particularly encouraged by the determination of our staff to go on trying to help those who so far haven't been reached with critical, lifesaving aid."