Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights over 170 Syrians were killed yesterday, 160 were killed the day before, more than 30,000 have died and 1.2 million may have been internally displaced. The UN estimates that 44 per cent of primary health facilities, 50 per cent of hospitals, are no longer fully functional. The tragedy is made worse by shelling, mortar attacks and rockets targeting hospitals, patients and medical staff. Half of Syria's doctors and nurses are no longer able to work. Volunteers with no medical training struggle to provide care. There is a shortage of equipment.

I recently put forward a plan to protect access to medical care in Syria. It has three components: first, all sides to the conflict must agree to not target medical personnel or facilities and not block access to doctors and healthcare facilities; second, that third parties such as a non-government organisation could monitor implementation; third, more humanitarian aid. On 30 September, I announced a further $4 million for Syria, bringing our total contribution to $24.5 million and making Australia the third largest national donor. I have discussed this plan with the Joint Special Envoy for Syria and the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. The plan is not without its challenges. Neither the Assad regime nor opposition groups have demonstrated any willingness to abide by previous peace plan commitments. The opposition, as we all know, is seriously divided. There is an opposition within Syria; there is an opposition organisation outside the country. Monitoring will be very difficult. A recent report suggests that monitoring anywhere outside Damascus is currently entirely elusory. I am very proud by the way that Australia is such a significant humanitarian contributor to this terrible humanitarian crisis.