OIC's Continued Support For Peaceful Solution To Syrian Crisis

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 (Bernama) -- The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has renewed its stand in finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria. In a statement Thursday, the OIC said the organisation reiterated its call for the Syrian Government to halt the bloodshed of innocent citizens and fulfil the legitimate demands of democracy, respect for human rights and good governance for the Syrian people. The General Secretariat expressed its support for the resolutions of the Arab League, which was ratified in Cairo on Feb 12. The Arab League urged the UN Security Council to issue a resolution setting up a joint United Nations-Arab peacekeeping force to go to Syria, and called for offering all forms of “political and material support” for the Syrian opposition. The General Secretariat also emphasised that it wanted to continue consultations and coordination with the Arab League and the United Nations to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria. Reports say the ongoing conflict and deteriorating living conditions in Syria have caused thousands of people to flee their homes and take shelter in neighbouring countries, with Jordan hosting some 3,000 refugees. More than 6,000 people have been killed since President Bashar al-Assad's forces began a brutal crackdown on protesters calling for democracy in March, according to monitoring groups. The United Nations put the figure at more than 5,400 in late December, before it gave up counting the toll, citing difficulties on the ground, according to reports. The OIC is also appealing to member states, financial and humanitarian institutions and philanthropists to provide assistance to the Syrian people, who are facing an acute humanitarian crisis. OIC Secretary-General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said he had requested the organisation's Humanitarian Affairs Department to prepare an emergency programme to tackle the deteriorating condition. "We are following with grave concern the deteriorating humanitarian conditions of the Syrian people at home and the refugees in the neighbouring countries," he said in a statement. -- BERNAMA