UN calls for pause in fighting to help farmers in Syria

The World Food Programme ( WFP) has called for humanitarian pauses in the fighting in Syria so farmers can safely harvest and transport crops within the Middle East country to reach all Syrians in need, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here.

WFP executive director Ertharin Cousin was quoted by Dujarric at a daily news briefing on Tuesday here as saying that "we must support unhindered and unrestricted food transport across frontlines," Xinhua reported.

"With indications that the 2015 harvest in Syria may exceed the last two years' harvests at a time of massive food insecurity and internal displacement, it is paramount that crops are not lost and that food stays within the country," Cousin said.

"We must support unhindered and unrestricted food transport across frontlines; this will ensure food now available in one part of the country reaches Syrians wherever they are in the country," Dujarric quoted Cousin as saying.

"Farmers need peace to harvest and to move their produce to markets. I am urging all sides to allow this to happen," Cousin said.

"Without a humanitarian pause by all sides, providing unhindered access to Syrian food and opening up corridors for transport, people will still go hungry despite a good harvest, and prices for food will remain high," Dujarric said.

In response, Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, applauded the call, saying he strongly welcomes and supports WFP's appeal.

The special envoy said the Syrian people have shown incredible resilience and determination in going through this terrible conflict, and they should be given a chance to make sure their own crops can reach their own people safely during this critical period.

Some 12.2 million people, including 5.6 million children, need humanitarian assistance throughout Syria. And by conservative UN estimates, more than 220,000 Syrians have died in the conflict, but the actual number is likely much higher.