ICRC To Scale Up Work In Syria In 2019, Boost Cooperation With Red Crescent - President

GENEVA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 19th August, 2018) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) intends to boost its operation in Syria in 2019 and increase cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent nonprofit, President of the ICRC Peter Maurer told Sputnik.

"We are [counting] on continuing to be active in 2019 in Syria. I think the ICRS will still be needed, and we are determined to grow our operation and cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent," Maurer said.

The ICRC president remarked that the situation on the ground had changed after large territories returned under the government control. At the same time, the humanitarian situation was not improving as rapidly as the military situation was changing, and the access given to humanitarian organizations did not increase fast enough to satisfy growing needs, Maurer said.

The ICRC president added that the changes on the ground led to those new needs appearing and stressed the need for the conflicting parties to respect the international humanitarian law.