Intra-Syrian meetings to talk people, not just politics: UN

UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and UN Development Programme Resident Representative for Syria, Yacoub El Hillo, said Tuesday "the coming days and weeks will bring something different to the people of Syria."

With intra-Syrian talks to take place on Jan. 29, El Hillo highlighted in a press brief on the humanitarian situation in Syria that half of the population who lived in the country in 2010 have since fled their homes because of violence and insecurity, representing some 6.5 million displaced people.

"We do have the expectation that the international community with all its parts and pieces will come to Geneva and actually talk people and not just politics," El Hillo explained.

"We also come with a clear message to those coming to Geneva, that enough is enough, Syrians can no longer pay the price for political failure," he said.

According to the UN official, 67 percent of the Syrian population lives in poverty, in a country where schools and services are affected on a daily basis and where people are leaving not just because of insecurity but also because of a lack of opportunity.

"The world woke up a few months ago when the human train started running to Europe," El Hillo said, adding that "we have over 4.5 million Syrians that we are not able to reach systematically. They live in what we call hard to reach areas because of military actions, insecurity and attacks."

Ahead of the intra-Syrian talks, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, confirmed that invitations had been sent to participants on Tuesday in accordance with the parameters outlined in Security Council resolution 2254.

Talks to start later this week are to be ongoing over six months and implemented on a staggered, chronological and proximity approach.

The first stages of the talks are expected to last between two to three weeks. Endit