* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Rome, 5 February 2015 - The Jesuit Refugee Service is extremely alarmed by the escalation in attacks on Aleppo and Damascus in the last few days. These indiscriminate attacks are targeting densely populated civilian areas. The level of violence in Damascus has reached unprecedented levels. The international community must take urgent action to protect the lives of civilian populations.
Nearly four years of conflict in Syria has left untold damage, suffering and loss of life in what was once a stable and relatively prosperous nation. According to figures released by international humanitarian agencies, more than 200,000 Syrians have been killed and some 10 million have been forcibly displaced. In addition, nearly a quarter of a million are forced to live under siege.
"Attacks have purposefully targeted civilian areas where high numbers of internally displaced persons and local residents live side by side. Not only do these attacks sow panic and fear, cause great structural damage and loss of life, they also fuel already tense sectarian relations", said a JRS staff member in Damascus.
Attacks hamper humanitarian assistance, forcing NGOs to evacuate their staff, suspend and halt activities. Children are left stranded at schools. In the midst of violence, parents frantically try to reach their children, putting their own lives at risk. It is those unable to protect themselves who ultimately bear the cost physically and psychologically of the violence.
"Continued military engagement will only deepen the humanitarian crisis. For the future of the whole region, the international community – including regional states – must do all in their power to halt the violence immediately".
In order to expand the efficacy of humanitarian assistance within Syria, more support should be given to civil society groups operating in the most affected areas, unreachable by international organisations. These Syrian networks and organisations offer hope for civilians and are the only ones able to provide much-needed assistance with very little means. Engaging local actors is a way of building capacity for the long-term and helping Syrians to resist the logic of violence and war.
Neighbouring countries have borne the greatest responsibility for the protection of those fleeing conflict. Lebanon alone hosts more than one million Syrian refugees, putting massive strains on infrastructure in the small Mediterranean nation. Refugees are homeless and unemployed, and children are out of school. They urgently need massive increases in technical and financial support from the international community.
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For further information
James Stapleton
International Communications Coordinator
Jesuit Refugee Service
Tel: +39 06 69868 468; +39 346 234 3841
twitter: @JesuitRefugee, @stapletonjm;
linkedin.com/in/stapletonjm
en.jrs.net
facebook.com/JesuitRefugeeService
Zerene Haddad
Regional Advocacy & Communications
Jesuit Refugee Service
Middle East and North Africa
zerene.haddad@jrs.net
Tel: +961 1 421 000 (ext 4712)
www.jrsmena.org
Note to editors
The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) programmes are found in nearly 50 countries, providing assistance to: refugees in camps and cities, individuals displaced within their own countries, asylum seekers in cities, and to those held in detention centres. The main areas of work are in the field of education, emergency assistance, healthcare, livelihood activities and social services.
At the end of 2013, JRS employed approximately 1,400 staff: lay, Jesuits and other religious to meet the education, health, social and other needs of nearly 950,000 refugees and IDPs, more than half of whom are women. Services are provided to refugees regardless of race, ethnic origin or religious beliefs.
