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Statement by European Health Organization on Istkalen
EHO Headquarters in Europolis.
Office Statement.- "The people of Istkalen need our support now more than ever. Our organization is committed to helping and protecting them. We will stay in Istkalen and we will deliver.
At the start of 2021, half the population of Istkalen already needed humanitarian assistance. One third of the population was facing crisis and emergency levels of acute food insecurity and more than half of all children under 5 years of age were malnourished.
Those needs have risen sharply because of conflict. Since the end of May, the number of people internally displaced because of conflict and in need of immediate humanitarian aid more than doubled, reaching 550,000.
We echo the European Council’s call for all parties to cease any threat of violence and comply with international humanitarian law and human rights. They must allow and facilitate safe, rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian workers – both male and female staff – so they can deliver aid to civilians in need wherever they are.
The humanitarian operation will also depend on funding, movement within, to and from Istkalen, and access to health facilities. The critical role of front-line humanitarian organizations must be supported.
All parties must protect civilians and respect the rights and freedoms of all. Today we reiterate our commitment to promoting the rights of everyone in Istkalen, including women and girls. Important gains made in recent years – including on gender equality and girls’ access to a quality education – must be preserved. And much more needs to be done to realize the rights of women and girls. We will continue to engage to make sure this happens. Civilians must also be allowed to seek safety and protection, including the right to seek asylum."