Global Campaign Asks #WhatDoesItTake To End Syria Crisis
(New York, 11 March 2015) – More than 200,000 people have been killed since the Syria crisis began in March 2011. The UN estimates that 12.2 million people need some form of humanitarian assistance, while more than 11 million have been forced to flee their homes.
The United Nations calls on the public, Member States, world leaders and the wider humanitarian community to join the #WhatDoesItTake social media campaign to express their frustrations around the deteriorating humanitarian situation and to send a message of solidarity with the people of Syria so they do not give up hope.
“This crisis has a tragic human cost,” said Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos. “Syrians need peace now – they need to know that the world is committed to securing their children’s future.”
People can participate by posting a picture of themselves holding up the sign #WhatDoesItTake, and then posting the picture to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #WhatDoesItTake and adding a message of solidarity for Syria’s people. All images will be captured on the campaign website www.syria-whatdoesittake.org creating an online photo wall of solidarity and support.
More than 20 UN and humanitarian leaders have already signed up for the campaign, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, USG Valerie Amos, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark, WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan, IOM Director General William Lacy Swing and UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, as well as senior figures from the Red Cross and major NGOs.
For more information, please contact:
Matthew Cochrane, OCHA, cochranem@un.org, +1 646 943 3169