UN Delegation Visits Syria to Highlight International Funding Shortage
(AWP) - A United Nations delegation visited northwest Syria through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey, to assess the conditions of the residents and understand their needs, in addition to highlighting the dangers posed by the shortage of international funding for their projects.
Ziad Nabulsi, Head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) in northwest Syria, said that they are facing many challenges, with the foremost being the lack of funding, hindering their ability to continue supporting humanitarian and development projects in the area.
He explained that the region’s suffering has been exacerbated by successive crises such as the 2023 earthquake and the coronavirus pandemic, on top of the dire economic crisis affecting the country since 2011.
Nabulsi said, “We, as the United Nations Population Fund, find that about 40% of health centres providing health support to women are closing their doors, and also more than 30% of our social centres are forced to close due to insufficient funding. Therefore, funding is essential.”
He continued, “There is also the issue of women’s empowerment, especially supporting families by providing projects and teaching skills to help them generate financial resources so that they can continue without relying on external support. These are important matters that we focus on in partnership with the United Nations Development Fund and other international organisations.”
The UN official appealed to nations and organisations across the globe to secure the necessary funding to resume the various economic and social projects in northwest Syria.
The UN delegation inspected several commercial stores, factories and schools that are supported by local and international non-governmental organisations.
Ali Mohammed, a Child Protection Coordinator at the Mercy Without Limits organisation, said that a delegation from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) visited their facility and learned about the services they offer to both children and adults.
He said, “This project is based on providing all child protection services within the Child Protection Centre, including psychological and social support, recreational activities, skills activities for parents, and life skills activities for children and adolescents.”
Humanitarian workers hope that the pace of funding will increase and be swiftly secured to ensure the continuity of their projects and the delivery of aid to the needy in northwestern Syria.