TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The foreign minister of Iran and the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs weighed plans to provide humanitarian assistance to the countries grappling with wars and crises, such as Ukraine, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan.
In a Tuesday meeting in Geneva, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian discussed the issues of mutual interest, including the humanitarian situation in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Amirabdollahian referred to his meetings with the UN chief as well as directors of humanitarian organizations in the past days, saying the international community needs to pay more attention to the humanitarian issues in the crisis-hit countries.
He also highlighted Iran’s move to send relief aid to Syria following a recent devastating earthquake. The Iranian foreign minister also emphasized the need to lift the blockade imposed by foreigners against Syria in order to improve conditions for the Syrian people.
Iran, as always, is ready to continue its cooperation with the United Nations and the special envoy of the UN chief to help relieve the humanitarian and hygiene hardships in Syria, he stated, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported.
Referring to the situation in Yemen, he underlined that the Yemen war must end and the humanitarian siege of the country must be lifted. Amirabdollahian added, “We are in touch with different Yemeni factions, and the Yemeni people believe that the key initiative for this country would be the removal of the humanitarian siege.”
Pointing to several millions of Afghan refugees and migrants residing in Iran, the top diplomat noted that it is necessary to create sustainable infrastructure with the support of the UN to meet all their needs.
On the war in Ukraine, the Iranian foreign minister reiterated that the Islamic Republic does not provide any warring side with military assistance because Tehran does not consider war as a solution and supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine.
Martin Griffiths, for his part, said he was pleased to meet Iran’s foreign minister and to be in constant touch with Iranian officials. He further thanked the Islamic Republic of Iran for supporting his mission.
He also stressed the need to facilitate and increase relief work in Syria and Yemen. Griffiths then briefed Iran’s top diplomat on his latest efforts regarding humanitarian issues in the two countries.
He expressed optimism about the positive impact of the recent political developments on the ties between the Arab states and Syria.
Griffiths also pointed to the negotiations between Riyadh and Sanaa, saying, “We need a comprehensive strategy to achieve lasting peace in Yemen.”
The UN official outlined his views about the situation in Afghanistan, adding that the UN wants all influential international parties to help with the humanitarian situation there.
Griffiths further gave his assessment about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, saying what the country needs above all is peace and an end to the war.
