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United Nations Nations Unies Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 6 300,000 people in besieged and hard-to-reach areas per week, in addition to regular programming supporting millions. We must be given the chance to do so, as the lives of many depend upon regular and unimpeded deliveries of humanitarian assistance. What we need are timely approvals and simplified approval procedures. In this regard, and in response to the request of the Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in early January as well as sustained advocacy at the level of the Humanitarian Task Force, we received commitments on the part of the Government of Syria that procedures for cross-line convoys would be simplified. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent was to now act as the main entry point for the facilitation of convoys with government entities. We are now waiting to receive the final proposed procedural changes in writing for review. We sincerely hope that these changes will effectively address some of the bureaucratic bottlenecks that have caused the many delays in the past. Let me also reiterate that cross-border assistance from Turkey and Jordan continues to represent a core element of the humanitarian response. This is especially important since needs are growing as local agreements are sending more people to the north as well as some locations in southern Syria – locations which are already strained by the current IDP population, with 900,000 IDPs in Idleb Governorate alone for example. Consequently, the UN and partners cross-border deliveries have steadily increased since the adoption of resolution 2165 (2014) in July 2014. That same year, 624 trucks were inspected before crossing the border into Syria, of which 172 trucks crossed into Syria via Ar-Ramtha (Jordan), 120 trucks via Bab al-Salam (Turkey), and 332 trucks via Bab al Hawa (Turkey). One year later, numbers rose to more than 4,882 trucks. And last year, in 2016, 6,587 trucks were inspected, of which 1,278 trucks crossed the border point of Ar-Ramtha (Jordan), 495 trucks entered Syria via Bab al-Salam (Turkey), and 4,814 trucks via Bab al-Hawa (Turkey). I would also like to specifically point out that the bulk of our humanitarian response has been implemented by a vast panoply of NGO partners on the ground. They must be protected at all times and under all circumstances. Mr. President, Let me conclude by saying this: The eyes of all of Syria, and the eyes of the world, are looking to Geneva. As has been stated so many times already, there is no humanitarian or military solution to this conflict. A genuine political commitment to peace will be needed if 2017 is to offer any different prospect than the death and destruction of the past six years. Millions of battered and beleaguered women, men and children depend on meaningful action and the constructive engagement by the Syrian parties and their allies, starting tomorrow at the intra-Syrian negotiations in Geneva, to assure Syrians that an end to the conflict may finally be within reach. Thank you Mr. President