Save the Children welcomes deal struck at Syrian peace talks

A deal allowing women and children to leave the war torn city of Homs in Syria has been welcomed by Save the Children New Zealand.

After two days of face to face peace talks in Geneva, a tentative deal has been struck, allowing women and children to leave the city centre which has been blockaded for several months.

There are hundreds of people in the old part of Homs who have been trapped by the fighting, without access to food, medicine or basic necessities. The Syrian government has agreed to allow a humanitarian convoy carrying basic supplies into the besieged city.

Save the Children New Zealand has been supporting the children of Syria since the civil war broke out in 2011, and has so far given nearly $500,000 in humanitarian aid.

Chief Executive Heather Hayden says women and children are usually the worst affected in such conflicts and the agreement reached in Geneva , is hopefully a sign that more positive peace talks are possible.

However she says it’s vital the international community doesn’t turn its back on the children of Syria.

The deal comes less than a month after the “No Lost Generation” appeal was launched by Save the Children, UNICEF, World Vision and other aid agencies , to raise awareness of the plight of Syria’s children and make sure they don’t lose their childhood to a war which has seen more than 7,000 children orphaned and entire families and communities torn apart.

To support Save the Children’s emergency work in Syria and around the world please donate to our emergency fund.

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