11 Sep 2012

UN / SYRIA HUMANITARIAN

At a joint press encounter with the head of UNICEF, the European Commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis response, Kristalina Georgieva told reporters at UN headquarters that both parties to the conflict are hampering the delivery of aid inside Syria, prompting ever more people to flee to neighbouring countries. UNTV

Posted at: September 11, 2012 4:56 pm

Duration: 02:28

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / SYRIA HUMANITARIAN
TRT: 2.28
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 11 SEPTEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

11 SEPTEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director, and Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, walk up to the stakeout position

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

3. Close up, reporter's notepad

9 AUGUST 2012, NEW YORK CITY

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response:
"In the absence of a political solution, it is our duty to work as hard as we can to get more help to people inside Syria, more assistance for those who flee their homes. There is a war and in the war the law of war applies. International humanitarian law must be respected."

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

5. Close up, reporter's laptop computer

9 AUGUST 2012, NEW YORK CITY

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response:
"One day this conflict will be over and we all know that when the end comes, the deeper the wounds, the more difficult the healing. And this is why I believe organisations that deliver humanitarian aid are so desperate to bring more attention to the fate of people who need our help."

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

7. Close up, cameras

9 AUGUST 2012, NEW YORK CITY

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response:
"Today, some million people out of the about three million that need food assistance can get it as a result of the bravery of humanitarian workers, but two out of three do not get assistance, and it is because of two reasons. Because fighting has accelerated, expanded and affects more parts of the country, more people. Needs are going up. Second, not enough international humanitarian workers who are applying for visas in Syria are getting visas."

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

9. Close up, reporter's laptop computer

9 AUGUST 2012, NEW YORK CITY

10.	SOUNDBITE (English) Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director:
"Education is so important for the children; both so they can build their futures for the good of themselves and their society, but also because schools can offer a kind of a safe psychological space for children, who, if they are too scarred by this crisis can replicate the same problems in the next generation. I believe about a tenth of the schools are now being closed in Syria and next week is the back to school time for so many children."

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

11. Close up, reporter's notepad

9 AUGUST 2012, NEW YORK CITY

12.	Pan right, Lake and Georgieva walk away from the stakeout position.

STORYLINE:

European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva said today (11 September) that in the absence of a political solution, "it is our duty to work as hard as we can to get more help to people inside Syria."

Georgieva called on both sides of the Syrian conflict to abide by international humanitarian law. She said "there is a war and in the war the law of war applies," adding that "International humanitarian law must be respected."

The European Commissioner, speaking to reporters together with UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, said "one day this conflict will be over and we all know that when the end comes, the deeper the wounds, the more difficult the healing," noting that organisations that deliver humanitarian aid are "desperate to bring more attention to the fate of people who need our help."

Georgieva said  "some million people out of the about three million that need food assistance can get it as a result of the bravery of humanitarian workers, but two out of three do not get assistance."

She said this was due to an escalation in the fighting and to the fact that not enough international humanitarian workers, who are applying for visas in Syria, are getting visas."

Lake pointed out that children are the most vulnerable victims of the crisis and highlighted the importance of education.

He said "schools can offer a kind of a safe psychological space for children, who, if they are too scarred by this crisis can replicate the same problems in the next generation."

According to the UNICEF official, "about a tenth of the schools are now being closed in Syria and next week is the back to school time for so many children."

The European Commission announced that it will continue to prioritise funding for children in humanitarian emergencies, despite the economic challenges. 
The European Commission is one of UNICEF's key partners working together in 27 countries affected by emergencies or in post-crisis.  The partnership between UNICEF and European Commission dates to 1992 and last year the EC provided more than €70 million to UNICEF for its humanitarian work worldwide.