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United Nations Nations Unies Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs For further information, please contact: Jens Laerke, OCHA Geneva, laerke@un.org , Tel.: +41 22 917 11 42, Cell: +41 79 472 9750 OCHA press releases are available at www.unocha.org or www.reliefweb.int The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR, STEPHEN O’BRIEN Statement on Syria With the Secretary-General, I welcome today's news of the Security Council's unanimous adoption of the resolution in support of the mediation efforts by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey to facilitate a ceasefire in Syria, and the Council’s renewed call to allow rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Syria in order to reach all people in need, wherever they are. As the people of Syria continue to suffer immeasurably, it is imperative that the political will demonstrated today translates into increased, sustained and impartial humanitarian access to the millions of people who have suffered far too long and are currently in the grips of a merciless cold winter without adequate shelter, protection and basic supplies. The UN and our national and international humanitarian partners are mobilized and ready on the ground to do all that we can to ensure that people receive the aid they so desperately need. It is imperative that the Government of Syria and the non-State armed groups end all sieges, remove bureaucratic obstacles and provide the necessary security assurances and guarantees to enable safe and unhindered access for humanitarians to deliver all the supplies as already identified in the UN plans so we can immediately fulfil our collective humanitarian responsibilities. New York, 31 December 201