Syrian National Coalition concerned about UN aid

The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) says it is "extremely concerned" about the method by which United Nations aid is being given to Syria, questioning whether it really reaches the needy. The concerns come after the UN approved a $519 million aid package for Syria. Under the plan, UN will give the money to the Syrian government to help those affected, with the committee responsible headed by the Syrian under-secretary of foreign affairs. The foreign ministry would then supervise humanitarian projects in addition to other administrative and logistical duties. In a statement, the SNC described the plan as "contradictory" in terms of dealing with the Syrian regime, because "it treats the government as a legitimate government." SNC added, "does it make sense that the regime which destroys cities, bombs hospitals, removes people from their homes, would provide them with aid to redress its own actions?" The statement referred to an assessment carried out by SNC over the past few weeks, which shows that aid provided by UN agencies and international NGOs "almost never" reaches the northern parts of Syria via Damascus and that these areas only receive 10 percent of the aid needed. "Ten million citizens live in these areas: nearly half of Syria's population," SNC said. The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to humanitarian and international conventions, and called on states which have recognised and pledged their backing for Syria to "carry out their promises" by communicating with the SNC's coordination unit to "help it perform the duties expected of it." The organisation also demanded that crucial aid is not passed to "the same party that caused the pain and suffering."