ICRC Urges Syrian Parties To Halt Fighting To Allow Relief Aid

Geneva, Feb 26, IRNA – The International Committee of the Red Cross said on Saturday that the humanitarian situation in Homs and other cities affected by fighting is deteriorating, calling for a two-hour halt daily to allow in relief aid. The ICRC said that the people in the war-stricken areas are in desperate need of food, water and medical care. 'Syrian Arab Red Crescent staff have been in contact with both the Syrian authorities and the opposition to arrange the evacuation from the Baba Amr neighborhood of all those in need of urgent medical care.' The ICRC / Red Crescent team spent the night in Homs after evacuating seven wounded people to al-Amin hospital and 20 women and children outside the affected zone. Continued access to Baba Amr and other areas hit by violence is crucial to life-saving operations. 'What we want is an immediate halt to the fighting so we can access Homs and the other affected areas to deliver much needed humanitarian aid,' ICRC spokesperson Carla Haddad said. Needs have increased rapidly in the last few days, while the security situation has become so bad that it is impossible to provide the humanitarian aid people desperately need./end