UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Imran Rida expressed deep concern over the recent airstrikes on Damascus airport, which resulted in the closure of the airport due to damage caused by the airstrike.
In a press statement today, Reda indicated that the closure has resulted in severe humanitarian impacts that could lead to additional negative impacts on vulnerable Syrians, noting that the closure has resulted in the suspension of all United Nations humanitarian air services, which is a major factor in ensuring access to humanitarian operations in Syria and many other countries in crisis.
He warned that the consequences of this closure would hamper humanitarian access if not resolved quickly, with dire humanitarian consequences for the more than two million people in need, and called on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians, civilian objects and infrastructure.