Syria: 60,000 People Given Aid in Homs After Ceasefire Agreement

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) have started to deliver food and other aid to thousands of people in the Al-Waer district of Homs after a ceasefire agreement was reached between the Government of Syria and armed opposition groups. The Al-Waer Local Committees helped broker the deal. The district had been difficult to access for the past two years. The population are in desperate need of supplies.

“The people in Al-Waer have been through very difficult times,” said the deputy head of the ICRC delegation in Syria, Alexandre Equey. “There has been constant fighting. The people have had very limited access to the basic necessities of life and, being confined for so long in the area, has had a huge impact on them.”

It may take several days to deliver all the aid. Convoys of trucks are bringing in food supplies for 40,000 people and hygiene kits for 60,000 people. In addition, medical items sufficient for 1000 dialysis sessions for patients with severe kidney problems will also be part of the aid delivered.

“Hopefully, this is just the start. We need to have regular access here and also to other areas, in order to help the people during these extremely difficult times,” said Mr Equey. “Winter is upon us. People need a regular water supply and shelter. People are suffering, especially, the children.” A part of ICRC supplies also includes basic construction material, which will be used to increase insulation against the cold weather and to improve water and sanitation facilities at 13 centres currently hosting displaced people in Al-Waer.