Assistanceing Syrian Recovery, ICRC Will Expand Programs Worth More Than 100 Million US Dollars

JAKARTA - The International Red Cross Committee (ICRC) plans to expand its work in Syria significantly beyond the initial $100 million program. This decision responds to urgent needs in the fields of health, water and electricity.

Syria needs assistance of 4.07 billion US dollars this year, but only 33.1 percent have been funded, leaving a difference of 2.73 billion US dollars according to the United Nations Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office (OCHA).

The ICRC expansion follows new access to all regions of the country after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad last month.

Our program, which was originally for Syria, amounted to $100 million, but most likely we will expand it significantly," ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric told Reuters on the sidelines of a visit to the country.

He said each donor country had proposed increased funding for Syria.

The ICRC is one of the few international organizations still operating in Syria under the Assad administration, working on infrastructure projects including water and electricity systems.

"We need to expand that work, we have a lot to do in the health sector," he added.

The organization is involved in rehabilitation efforts to maintain water supply by 40% to 50% of pre-war conditions, but water facility protection remains important as some of them are close to where fighting is still ongoing.

"There are facilities next to Lake Eufrat that specifically meet the current protection requirements," he said.

An initial assessment to immediately begin the rehabilitation of the Syrian electricity system has been partially completed, but urgent financial investment and adjustments to sanctions are now needed.

Certain spare parts need to be allowed in because it also hinders rehabilitation work at this time. So there is a political dimension," he said.