International Red Cross Hopes to Clinch Humanitarian Truce in Syria

A delegation from the Syrian National Council (SNC), the main Syrian opposition group, met Red Cross (ICRC) officials in Geneva on Wednesday to discuss the agency's proposal of a daily two-hour cessation of fighting in Syria.

 

[Basma Kodmani, SNC Senior Official]:        

"I think their (ICRC's) appeal today or yesterday to call for a pause of a two-hour time every day is clearly an indication that the Red Cross sees the needs have grown steadily and are growing rapidly, that we are at a threshold of something more dangerous, and we believe this option is a very good one."

 

She called on international support to step up humanitarian aid and says many governments are "supportive" of the Red Cross initiative.

 

[Basma Kodmani, SNC Senior Official]:               

"We have seen reactions I think from many governments for the moment, who have been supportive. We are not seeing any negative indications from the regime. We are also encouraged by the fact that Russia has welcomed the initiative of the proposition, and we feel this might well lead to having Russia convince the regime that it should cooperate."

              

A Red Cross statement says Homs families in affected areas are stuck for days in their homes, unable to step outside to get food, water, or obtain medical care.

              

Activists say Syrian government forces killed 21 people and wounded some 340 on Tuesday in a rebel-held district of Homs.