EP calls for more humanitarian aid to Syria, Iraq

The European Parliament (EP) called Thursday for the international community to step up humanitarian aid to millions of people suffering in the crisis in Iraq and Syria.

Voting in favour of a resolution on the humanitarian crisis, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) also called on the European union   (EU) to consider convening a donor conference and stressed the need for a political transition in Syria and an inclusive government in Iraq to cut the ground from under the Islamic State (IS) group.

The violence in Syria has displaced more than 7.6 million people inside the country and left over 12.2 million in desperate need of assistance there. In Iraq, more than 5.2 million Iraqis need urgent humanitarian assistance and over 2.1 million are internally displaced, according to official estimates. Some 740,000 Iraqis are sheltering in sub-standard housing as a severe winter sweeps the region. A further 2.2 million living in areas controlled by IS also urgently need aid.

In a debate on Wednesday, MEPs condemned the violence carried out by IS. They also called for action on EU citizens joining jihadi groups and for more cooperation with other countries.

The European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides described the humanitarian situation in Iraq, Syria and neighboring countries as "devastating".

"Some 20 million people are in need of urgent assistance," he said, presenting a new Commission initiative that would provide additional 1 billion euros(1.13 billion U.S. dollars) to tackle the situation in Syria and Iraq.

"The presence of IS has further complicated the crisis," he added. "Some 3.6 million people are trapped in areas controlled by IS and other opposition groups in Syria. However, access for humanitarian groups is heavily restricted and at times impossible."

Stylianides said the continuation of EU aid to those most in need was "essential". Neighboring countries, such as Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, have undertaken "a huge burden in terms of refugees," he stated.

"We want to send a message of our ongoing support, especially to the most vulnerable groups like women and children. We cannot allow a lost generation of Syrian children," he said.

The new EU aid package included specific measures like upgrading the water system to provide access to fresh drinking water.

"But humanitarian aid alone will not put an end to the crisis," Stylianides added.

"It needs a political solution. We need to address the root causes of the crisis; that is why we are including measures for counter-radicalisation and counter-terrorism, and education is also an important element of the funding," he said.

Socialists and Democrats spokesman Victor Bostinaru described the situation in the region as "one of the gravest humanitarian crises in contemporary history".

For the European Conservatives and Reformists group British MEP Charles Tannock called for more action to counter EU citizens joining ISIS and other jihadi groups.

"We must coordinate intelligence gathering and sharing and ensure that the laws are in place in our member states to prosecute those who have committed atrocities, including kidnappings, bombings, forced religious conversions and ritual executions of hostages in cold blood," he said.

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