Having the United Nations issue the biggest financial appeal in its history on Friday, June 7, 2013 — asking for more than $5 billion in humanitarian aid to Syria — transcends the political debates that are taking place and should restore the primacy to address this Arab tragedy for all parties concerned. Whatever might be the arguments of the Syrian conflict — described by Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, as “the most dangerous crisis since the end of the cold war” — it seems to me that political debates at this moment have to calm down and address this humanitarian tragedy.
The World Food Program says it is now providing food for around 2.5 million people — one million more than at the start of the year — and it expects the number to rise to four million by the end of 2013. This unraveling humanitarian tragedy is a blot on international diplomacy, particularly when postponing the Geneva II conference until July is even being considered.
