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The Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in Syria

Date:
Location:
2200 Rayburn House Office Building

Hearing Notice 

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria and the continuing efforts to protect and assist the affected civilian population.

With the Syria crisis now in its eighth year, civilians have borne the brunt of a conflict marked by unparalleled suffering, destruction and disregard for human life. Over 6 million people are internally displaced while millions more have fled the country in search of safety. Ongoing armed conflict in the northeast and northwest regions of the country continues to feed the crisis: according to OCHA, hundreds of civilians including women and children have been killed or injured due to airstrikes and shelling since May 1, while more than 400,000 people are estimated to have fled their homes to escape from violence. At the end of 2018 the United Nations estimated that over 11 million people in Syria were in need of some form of humanitarian assistance.  

Despite the shifting lines of control inside Syria, humanitarian organizations remain committed to reaching those in need safely and effectively, regardless of their location and in keeping with the humanitarian principles of independence, neutrality and impartiality. But those principles are under pressure inside Syria. Attacks against civilian infrastructure including medical facilities and personnel have been a hallmark of the Syrian conflict and continue apace, while for the third year in a row Syria is the deadliest place in the world to be an aid worker.

The witnesses represent humanitarian agencies operating in Syria using both cross-border and Damascus-based approaches. They will provide an update on the current humanitarian situation in the northwest, northeast and in government-held areas, and discuss the obstacles they confront in providing humanitarian assistance — including insecurity, donor, financial, and counterterror regulations, disregard for international humanitarian law by parties to the conflict, civil-military coordination, and restrictions on freedom of movement — and their strategies to overcome them.

This hearing will be open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the interested public, and the media. The hearing will be livestreamed via the Commission website and will also be available for viewing on Channel 56 of the House Digital Channel service. For any questions, please contact Kimberly Stanton at 202-225-3599 (for Co-Chair McGovern) or Piero Tozzi at 202-225-3765 (for Co-Chair Smith). 

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Christopher H. Smith
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Witnesses

Opening Remarks

Witnesses

Panel I

  • Jomana Qaddour, Co-Founder, Syria Relief & Development
    Written testimony
  • Arnaud Quemin, Syria Country Director, Mercy Corps
    Written testimony
  • Anna Cervi, Syria Country Director, Norwegian Refugee Council (by video link)
    Written testimony
  • Amanda Catanzano, Senior Director, International Programs Policy and Advocacy, International Rescue Committee
    Written testimony

Bios

Submitted for the Record

Transcript

Forthcoming.

Video

Meeting Documents

Contact The Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
4150 O'Neill House Office Building
200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
Fax: +1 (202) 226-6584
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

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