Sir, – As highlighted by the UN high commissioner for refugees (World News, July 18th), the Syrian refugee crisis is escalating at a rapid pace. More than 1.8 million Syrian refugees are being hosted in camps or makeshift settlements across the region. This is a critical humanitarian catastrophe.
The figure quoted above does not include the estimated 6.8 million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance who remain trapped by the conflict inside Syria.
Nor does it include the tens of thousands of people who have fled from Syria but have yet to be officially registered as refugees with the UNHCR. Without registration papers, they are ineligible for most aid.
Official aid is dwindling in Lebanon and Jordan and the last remaining border crossing into Iraq is now closed. Donor countries not only need to honour their existing commitments, they need to significantly increase them to keep pace with the escalating needs.
The conflict in Syria shows no sign of abating, and the needs of the Syrian people are increasing daily. There is no excuse for our continued humanitarian failure. We must act now. – Yours, etc,
JANE-ANN McKENNA,
Médecins Sans Frontières
(MSF) Ireland,
9-11 Upper Baggot Street.
Dublin 4.