Caritas on Syria: An endless humanitarian tragedy

By Francesca Merlo

“Yet another violation of international law” reads the opening of the Caritas statement entitled “Syria: an endless humanitarian tragedy”.

This time, it says, it is the northeast of the country that is under attack, the one that is “inhabited mainly by Kurds”.

Trying times

The population that fought for so long against the so-called Islamic State, and other terrorist organisations, is once again “put to the test”, Caritas says, explaining that Turkey’s attack on Syria will cause the already extremely-high number of interally-displaced people and refugees in other countries to rise drastically.

80% of Syria’s population lives in poverty, reads the statement, adding that over 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.

“As always”, it says, the most vulnerable are those suffering the most: the elderly, women, the disabled and 5.6 million children.

Stop the bloodshed

Caritas appeals to the whole International community to “do everything necessary to stop with no conditions” what they are describing as this “massacre” and to “restore respect for international law”.

Because, says Caritas, “now more than ever we need the commitment and solidarity of all, so that we can find a peaceful solution to this umpteenth front of war and so that we can respond quickly to the most urgent humanitarian needs”.

Finally, Caritas Italy says the people of Syria have been “plagued with nine years of war that have caused death, destruction and poverty”, and that all of them need peace, as they have the right to restore their lives, with dignity.