A bullet-hole scars the blackboard at the local school in Northern Syria

EMBARGOED TILL MARCH 12

More Needs to Be Done to End the Conflict in Syria Says Save the Children .

As the conflict in Syria enters its fifth year, Save the Children NZ is urging the government to use its seat on the United Nations Security Council as an opportunity to push for an end to the conflict which has killed more than 200,000 people, 76,000 last year alone.

Prime Minister John Key has in the past criticised the UN Security Council for being a “powerless bystander“ to the Syrian tragedy and has called for more action to bring the leaders of state governments and warring parties to account.

Save the Children NZ Chief Executive Heather Hayden says now is the perfect chance for New Zealand to influence the international community.

“It’s time for the UN Security Council to seriously tackle the humanitarian crisis that the world has been watching unfold in Syria over the last four years.

This spiraling catastrophe is a stain on our conscience, and the conscience of the international community.”

Save the Children has joined 20 other international aid agencies, criticising the UN Security Council for failing to act to alleviate the suffering of millions people in Syria.

Despite three Security Council resolutions adopted last year demanding more protection and assistance for the Syrian people, humanitarian access to much of the country has been curtailed, even though more aid is needed than ever before and more people are being killed.

Over the last four years 3.5 million children have been forced to flee their homes, and 5.6 million are desperately in need of humanitarian assistance.

“Across Syria, children are missing out on the education because we cannot reach them, many schools have been destroyed and parent are afraid to send their children for fear their schools will be attacked ,”says Roger Hearn Save the Children’s Middle East Regional Director.

“While heroic humanitarian workers risk their lives to give essential aid and services, millions of Syrians remain out of reach, not only because of fighting and a worsening situation but also because of a lack of funding and bureaucratic hurdles.”

The humanitarian organisations are calling on UN member states, including the five permanent members of the Security Council to go beyond words and ensure the resolutions are fully implemented.

ENDS

© Scoop Media