UN Aid Appeal Offensive
Syria Media Report, 10-Oct-08
UN Aid Appeal Offensive
Syria Media Report, 10-Oct-08
The pro-government website Cham Press has criticised the United Nations for appealing for more than 20 million US dollars in aid for Syrians suffering from the drought that is plaguing the country.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs launched the 20 million dollar appeal on October 1, saying a million people were malnourished and risked losing their livelihoods.
On October 8 Cham Press described the UN appeal as “offensive” because it portrayed Syria as a famine-plagued “poor nation that needs appeals for donations”.
"Syria hasn’t asked the UN for any aid, and we didn’t declare that we have a humanitarian disaster, so what is the reason for that statement?" asked Cham Press.
The pro-government website Syria Steps reported on October 8 that the government had not commented on the UN’s appeal. Syria Steps said the drought was worsening and was costing the country a lot of money.
