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bjbjLULU MARGARET WARNER: For more on the challenges of providing assistance in this
type of conflict, we turn to Joel Charny, vice president for humanitarian policy at
InterAction. That's an umbrella organization of humanitarian and development nongovernmental
organizations. And, Mr. Charny, welcome. JOEL CHARNY, Vice President for Humanitarian Policy,
InterAction: Thank you. MARGARET WARNER: What can you tell us, what do we know about the
humanitarian situation on the ground in Syria, particularly when it comes to medical aid?
JOEL CHARNY: We ve had reports from the International Committee of the Red Cross that there are
really two key issues right now. One is just maintaining normal emergency services. For
example, if you have appendicitis or, you know, a problem with childbirth or whatever,
it's very difficult for people to get access to hospitals and get that kind of routine
emergency care. But then there's just the whole question of the number of wounded, civilian
casualties. And there's severe difficulty in getting the wounded the medical care that
they need as well. MARGARET WARNER: Now, the ICRC suggests it is in there in some fashion.
What do we know about that? JOEL CHARNY: They're there officially. And they ve been there for
decades. They're talking to the government. They're trying, as you reported, to negotiate
a temporary halt in hostilities to deliver basic assistance. They're operating openly
with their partners, the Syrian Red Crescent. And in a situation like this, ICRC, being
the organization mandated by the Geneva Conventions to operate in the midst of conflict, they
really are in the best position to respond. MARGARET WARNER: Now, other NGOs like Doctors
Without Borders say they just can't operate there at all. Is it the case that really there
are no other international NGOs there, and why is that? JOEL CHARNY: There are very few
organizations that are based inside, basically because Syria is -- historically within the
last 10 years or so has been a middle-income country, not a place of humanitarian crisis.
And to the extent that there are NGOs present, they were there to -- they got permission
to be there to work with Iraqi refugees. MARGARET WARNER: Right, who were pouring across the
border. JOEL CHARNY: Who were pouring across the border in 2005, 2006, 2007. So, there's
a small NGO community there, but how they're able to operate under current circumstances
is a real question. MARGARET WARNER: So, what does an NGO -- what do NGOs do in a situation
like that -- I mean, like this? If we look at Facebook or Twitter or whatever, these
people are crying out for aid, but what can an NGO do? JOEL CHARNY: Well, in a setting
like this, the first thing is to examine where it s possible to reach people. And I would
emphasize that there are refugees who are crossing borders into Turkey, into Lebanon,
into Jordan. MARGARET WARNER: These are Syrians who manage to get out. JOEL CHARNY: That's
right. So part of it is, you know, just being -- finding ways to work where it's safe and
where there's access. If you're sitting in Damascus right now, pretty much the only thing
you can do is try to maintain your existing programs and, if possible, talk to the Syrian
authorities to see if you might be able to reach people in need. But, you know, it's
-- because there's no front line, because there's no safe zone, because there's no liberated
zone, it's a shifting conflict that makes it virtually impossible for a group that isn't
there now to intervene. MARGARET WARNER: So, compare it, for instance, to Libya, where
at least -- I mean, there were areas that didn't get any assistance. But there were
areas that did. JOEL CHARNY: Well, Libya, there was a clear demarcation between areas
controlled by the rebels in the east and areas that continued to be controlled by the Gadhafi
government until its fall. The difficulty was in, of course, the conflict areas, that
there was a sense in Libya that there was a liberated zone which nongovernmental organizations
were able to access with medical assistance and other supplies. That does not exist in
Syria. And that makes it virtually impossible for organizations to try and enter and get
something done. MARGARET WARNER: Now, Doctors Without Borders has also put out statements
saying that they have reports that medical personnel and medical facilities are actually
being targeted by security forces. Have you been able to confirm any of that? What's that
about? JOEL CHARNY: I have not been able to confirm that. Some of that is coming from
exile groups that are in touch with individuals inside the country. To get independent confirmation
of something like that is very difficult. But I think it's plausible. The regime, the
Assad government, they see this as an existential struggle for their survival. And, unfortunately,
they're going to do almost anything to assure that survival. And if that means preventing
medical supplies from going to rebel areas or people that are associated with the resistance,
they're probably going to do that. MARGARET WARNER: People who thought -- are thought
to have been even wounded resisting? JOEL CHARNY: That's right. MARGARET WARNER: And
we certainly -- we saw that in Bahrain. Finally, the French -- or the French foreign minister,
Alain Juppe, has suggested establishing some sort of humanitarian corridor. And the Turks
occasionally have indicated interest. What is he talking about? And how does the NGO
community in general feel about something like that? JOEL CHARNY: We're not enthusiasts
for humanitarian corridors. Who is going to enforce it? I mean, let's take the path of
the Red Cross and see if a cease-fire can be negotiated. A humanitarian corridor is
something that s forced through a military presence, which means some foreign military
on the ground in Syria. And are the French willing to do that, to take that risk? And
even if they do, would they be able to guarantee the safety of people within the corridor and
the humanitarian organizations that would be trying to reach them? It doesn't sound
feasible to me, given the current situation in Syria. MARGARET WARNER: Certainly, what
you're saying has been reflected by other NGOs. Well, thank you, Joel Charny, very much
from InterAction. JOEL CHARNY: You're very welcome. Thanks. hb)v hb)v urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags
country-region urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags place For more on the challenges of providing
assistance in this type of conflict, we turn to Joel Charny, vice president for humanitarian
policy at InterAction Normal Microsoft Office Word T#.2 For more on the challenges of providing
assistance in this type of conflict, we turn to Joel Charny, vice president for humanitarian
policy at InterAction Title Microsoft Office Word Document MSWordDoc Word.Document.8