Four areas targeted in international aid survey
But the rare access to strife-torn areas of Syria gained by two UN agencies depends on the co-operation of local medical students, Syrian Arab Red Crescent aid workers and other non-government organisations to conduct the survey.
A third UN agency, for humanitarian needs, announced yesterday it had gained access for its own preliminary assessment.
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Hide AdWorld Health Organisation spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said a “very preliminary and basic survey” overseen by his agency and the UN Population Fund will be carried out next week with the co-operation of Syria’s health ministry.
Medical students and aid workers will fan out in four areas affected by the crisis: the city of Homs, the southern city of Deraa, where protests began, the north-eastern city of Deir al-Zour and the outskirts of the capital, Damascus, he told reporters in Geneva.
He said needs would be assessed and the results analysed by all agencies providing aid.