UN chief calls for humanitarian access, end to the violence in Syria

Following the renewed outbreak of fighting in Syria’s civil war, UN Secretary General António Guterres has called for humanitarian access to all civilians and an end to the violence.

He spoke about this on the phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Guterres said in New York.

“I emphasized the urgent need for immediate humanitarian access to all civilians in need – and a return to the UN-facilitated political process to end the bloodshed,” he said in a statement.

“Tens of thousands of civilians are at risk in a region already on fire.”

After 14 years of war in Syria, he said it was “time for serious dialogue.”