DHAKA: UN aid chief Valerie Amos demanded stronger action by the UN Security Council to get desperately needed aid into Syria, where 2.5 million people in need have not received help for almost a year.

Violence and excessive red tape have slowed aid delivery to a trickle in Syria.

More than 100,000 people have been killed in the 2 1/2-year civil war and some 2.1 million have fled. After months of talks, the 15-member Security Council approved a non-binding statement October 2 urging increased humanitarian access.

‘This is a race against time. Three weeks have passed since the adoption of this council`s statement with little change to report,’ Amos told the Security Council, reports The Jerusalem Post.

‘As we deliberate, people continue to die unnecessarily.’

‘I call upon all members of the council to exert influence and take the necessary action to stop this brutality and violence,’ she said.

‘Without real and sustained pressure from this council on the government of Syria and opposition groups on the ground, it will be impossible to make progress.’

BDST: 1703 HRS, OCT 26, 2013
RoR/JCK