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Kirsten Mildren, spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), confirmed their intention to conduct an “internal review” of the delay in reaching aid to northwest Syria after the earthquake.
“It is usual for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to conduct an internal review of any major emergency response, improve the way it responds to future crises, and make changes if necessary,” said the UN official. .
Mildrin added that in light of the ongoing relief efforts, the investigation has not yet begun and stressed that the results of the investigation will not be released, according to “Deutsche Welle”.
The German site has submitted a proposal to the General Assembly, indicating the possibility of conducting an investigation, but this requires the approval of a majority of Member States.
“It’s easy to say we need to investigate, but very difficult to do. It’s hard to determine which side to investigate,” an unnamed UN official quoted on the website.
Matthew Brown, media officer for the United Nations Human Rights Council, said any investigation into the case should convince one of the states that an independent investigation is needed and that the issue is not on the agenda. At this time.
The Independent International Commission of Investigation on Syria confirmed that such a review falls outside of its mandate.
In response, the United Nations agency acknowledged its negligence, pointing out that it failed more than five million civilians residing in northwest Syria following the devastating earthquake that struck the country a week ago.
“The people of northwest Syria have let us down and they have a right to feel abandoned,” said Martin Griffiths, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.
He tweeted at the time: “I’m seeking international help that hasn’t arrived. It’s my job to fix the failure as quickly as possible. That’s my focus now.”
After the earthquake that hit the region, the United Nations did not respond to the distress calls made by Syrians, humanitarian organizations and rescue teams.
Four days after the incident, the United Nations justified its position by sending an aid convoy of 14 vehicles through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey, saying that the roads were cut off.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General, justified the international organization’s delay in providing aid to and for those affected by the earthquake, claiming that the earthquake was the cause of the delay in delivering humanitarian aid to northwest Syria. roads damaged by the earthquake.
Regarding the United Nations’ failure to send equipment and engineering machinery to remove the wreckage and save the lives of as many victims as possible, Haq said the organization did not have the rescue equipment that could be sent to northern Syria.
