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Syria conflict: Half of population in urgent need of aid - UN Syria conflict: Half population urgently needs aid - UN
(35 minutes later)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says that half of Syria's population, some 9.3 million people, now "urgently need humanitarian aid".UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says that half of Syria's population, some 9.3 million people, now "urgently need humanitarian aid".
He was speaking at a donor conference in Kuwait which is seeking $6.5bn (£4bn) over the coming year for Syria.He was speaking at a donor conference in Kuwait which is seeking $6.5bn (£4bn) over the coming year for Syria.
It is the UN's biggest ever request for a single crisis.It is the UN's biggest ever request for a single crisis.
Meanwhile, Syria's deputy foreign minister has said Western intelligence agencies have visited Damascus to discuss combating radical Islamists.Meanwhile, Syria's deputy foreign minister has said Western intelligence agencies have visited Damascus to discuss combating radical Islamists.
New pledges 'Shared burden'
Mr Ban said the conflict, which began in 2011, had "set back Syria years, even decades". Mr Ban said the conflict had "set back Syria years, even decades", and he was especially concerned about violence against women and girls and by reports of starvation among besieged communities.
He said he was especially concerned by violence against women and girls and by reports of starvation among communities trapped by fighting. "No country, no people should face hardship or calamity for helping Syrians in need. It is vital for this region and our world that the burden is shared," he said.
Some 6.5 million people are now displaced inside Syria. More than 2.3 million have registered as refugees across the region, many living in camps which are barely coping.Some 6.5 million people are now displaced inside Syria. More than 2.3 million have registered as refugees across the region, many living in camps which are barely coping.
The UN says more than 100,000 people have died since the uprising began. The UN says more than 100,000 people have died since the uprising began in 2011.
So far the following countries have promised money at the conference: By late on Wednesday, the conference had raised $2.4bn in pledges, including:
Those pledges represent roughly a third of the amount the UN says it needs.Those pledges represent roughly a third of the amount the UN says it needs.
"We call upon the countries who are participating in Kuwait's donors meeting to help us," Ismail Ammar, a 70-year-old Syrian who recently arrived at the massive Zaatari refugee camp just inside Jordan, told the Associated Press. Ismail Ammar, a 70-year-old Syrian living in the massive Zaatari refugee camp just inside Jordan, appealed to the donors, saying he had "nothing".
"We have nothing here, no heating, no gas cylinder. We need everything. I'm suffering from an injury, and I have a big family, and we suffer in this cold weather." "No heating, no gas cylinder," he told the Associated Press. "We need everything. I'm suffering from an injury, and I have a big family, and we suffer in this cold weather."
'Deliberate obstruction''Deliberate obstruction'
Rights groups have accused the Syrian authorities of deliberately withholding aid from some districts. Rights groups have accused the Syrian authorities of deliberately hampering aid distribution in some areas.
Human Rights Watch quoted local activists as saying that by 5 January, 28 people had died from malnutrition and lack of medical care in the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk, only a few kilometres south of central Damascus, because of "Syria's policy of deliberately obstructing aid". Human Rights Watch said Damascus was allowing some shipments in, but had "steadfastly refused to allow aid in from Turkey to reach those in need in northern Syria" and often forced convoys to take circuitous routes.
On Wednesday the UN relief agency, UNRWA, said it had tried to send a convoy of six vehicles to Yarmouk carrying food, polio vaccines and other supplies but had to withdraw when the vehicles were fired upon. On Wednesday, UN relief agency UNRWA said it had tried to send a convoy of six vehicles carrying food, polio vaccines and other supplies to the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk, a few kilometres south of Damascus, but had to withdraw when the vehicles were fired upon.
The agency says it was obliged by the authorities to use the southern entrance to the camp as opposed to the closer northern entrance, forcing the convoy to go through areas of intense conflict where jihadi groups are active, UNRWA's Chris Gunness told the BBC.The agency says it was obliged by the authorities to use the southern entrance to the camp as opposed to the closer northern entrance, forcing the convoy to go through areas of intense conflict where jihadi groups are active, UNRWA's Chris Gunness told the BBC.
The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says that for communities trapped by the fighting what is needed is not so much more money, but an agreement on local ceasefires or humanitarian corridors.The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says that for communities trapped by the fighting what is needed is not so much more money, but an agreement on local ceasefires or humanitarian corridors.
But it is by no means clear the fragile peace process supposed to be launched at an international conference in Geneva next week can make that happen, she adds.But it is by no means clear the fragile peace process supposed to be launched at an international conference in Geneva next week can make that happen, she adds.
The main opposition alliance, the National Coalition, has still not decided whether to take part in the talks, fearing participation could undermine its credibility with the anti-Assad opposition inside Syria. The main opposition alliance, the National Coalition, has still not decided whether to take part in the talks, fearing participation could undermine its credibility with the anti-government opposition inside Syria.
Correspondents say the growing disarray of the opposition is frustrating the West and bolstering the confidence of the Syrian government.Correspondents say the growing disarray of the opposition is frustrating the West and bolstering the confidence of the Syrian government.
'No alternative''No alternative'
Meanwhile, Syria's deputy foreign minister has told the BBC that Western intelligence agencies have visited Damascus for talks on combating radical Islamist groups in Syria. Meanwhile, Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has told the BBC that Western intelligence agencies have visited Damascus for talks on combating radical Islamist groups in Syria.
The growth of such groups among rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad has complicated the conflict and caused international concern.The growth of such groups among rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad has complicated the conflict and caused international concern.
Faisal Mekdad said there was a schism between Western security officials and politicians who are pressing President Assad to step down. Mr Mekdad said there was a schism between what Western politicians were saying - in pressing President Assad to step down - and what security officials were doing in practice, and that many had finally understood there was no alternative to the leadership of President Assad.
The UK Foreign Office told the BBC it does not comment on intelligence matters. The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet said informed sources had confirmed meetings between Western and Syrian intelligence officials.
However, the BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet said informed sources had confirmed meetings between Western and Syrian intelligence officials. The UK government categorically denied having any such co-operation with the Assad regime.
On Tuesday, French President Francois Hollande told a press conference in Paris that 700 French nationals had joined the ranks of foreigners fighting in Syria. Khaled Saleh, spokesman for the National Coalition, told the BBC that if the reports were true, "it would show a clear contradiction between the words and actions of the (Western-led) Friends of Syria group".
Mr Mekdad said many Western governments had finally understood that there was no alternative to the leadership of President Assad.
Asked if Western intelligence agencies - including British intelligence - had recently visited Damascus, he said: "I will not specify but many of them have visited Damascus, yes."
Mr Mekdad also said "many" countries were approaching Syria with a view to having their diplomats return to Damascus.
Khaled Saleh, spokesman for the National Coalition, told the BBC that if the reports were true, "it would show a clear contradiction between the words and actions of the (Western-led) Friends of Syria group."
The Friends of Syria is a group of countries set up to support the Syrian opposition, with 11 states in the region and in the West comprising its "core group".The Friends of Syria is a group of countries set up to support the Syrian opposition, with 11 states in the region and in the West comprising its "core group".
Mr Saleh said it was the Syrian opposition, not the government, that was combating "terrorist groups" such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) which he insisted was "organically linked" to the Mr Assad's government.Mr Saleh said it was the Syrian opposition, not the government, that was combating "terrorist groups" such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) which he insisted was "organically linked" to the Mr Assad's government.