UN: Syria needs aid, no chemical weapons found

(Vatican Radio) Syrian president Bashar al-Assad is trading allegations with rebel groups, with each side saying that the other used chemical weapons. Both the United States and the United Nations report they have not uncovered evidence that chemical weapons have been used in Syria.

At the same time, the UN has confirmed insufficient humanitarian aid for the millions of Syrians affected by the two years of violence. An estimated 1 million Syrians have fled the country and 70,000 have been killed.

The UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator says Syrians have lost access to the basics—food, water and fuel—and the Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan is only 21 per cent funded.

The coordinator noted the destruction of much of the infrastructure, said spokesperson Jens Laerke.

“He highlighted again significant shortage of funding that we have,” said Laerke. “Because of the shortages, the relief programs fail to feed all those that require food, fail to treat the sick and wounded and do not provide shelter for all the families in need.”

Listen to the report by Chris Altieri: