Syrian air defenses respond to Israeli strike

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Syrian air defenses respond to Israeli strike

A Syrian woman holds a child at Kabsh camp for the displaced people in the countryside near Syria's northern city of Raqa during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on April 7, 2022. DELIL SIL SOULEIMAN AFP DAMASCUS Syrian air defenses responded to a fresh Israeli missile strike in the capital Damascus after midnight, the state news agency SANA reported on Wednesday.

The explosions in the capital occurred as a result of the attack and the interception of Syrian air defenses.

The state media has not given more details, but the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that over 12 violent explosions were heard in the capital Damascus and its countryside as a result of Israeli strikes.

It added that Israeli missiles landed near the international airport of Damascus and areas in the northern countryside of Damascus.

ALSO READ: Syria accuses the US of war crimes in northern Raqqa province.

The Israeli military attack is the latest in a string of Israeli strikes against Syrian military sites over the pretext that it is targeting pro-Iran militias and weapons shipments.

On Tuesday, Joyce Msuya, the deputy UN relief chief, told the Security Council that the humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire amid a worsening economic crisis.

As the eyes of the world turn to other conflicts, Syria is on the verge of becoming a forgotten crisis. Millions of Syrians struggle to survive each month. Since the civil war began in 2011, her situation has never been worse for many, she said.

There is fighting in many areas, and civilians, including women and children, are being killed and injured. She said that the economic crisis continues unabated.

Fuel shortages and lack of electricity affect the delivery of basic services, including health, education, water and sanitation. Food and fuel prices are going to go up every month, putting the basic necessities for a healthy and dignified life even further out of reach for millions of people. Msuya, assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and deputy emergency relief coordinator, said food prices rose another 18 percent between February and March.

The access to safe water in the north remains a major challenge. Farmers and livestock producers are being affected by a number of unprecedented water shortages last year.

Some sub-districts in the northeast of the country have reported harvest losses of over 75 percent. The loss of crops and agricultural livelihoods will likely worsen already high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition. She said that women and girls are disproportionately affected by their prominent role in agriculture.

In the northwest, 4.1 million people need humanitarian aid. Nearly 1 million people are living in tents, half of which are beyond their normal lifespan. She said most of them are women and children.

The future looks bleak for Syrians living through the 12th year of this crisis. The resources available for our emergency response are dwindling as the economic and food security outlook worsens. Msuya said that we simply don't have the money needed.

Rapid and substantial investments are needed to break through the vicious cycle of suffering, violence and despair. She said we count on the generous support of donors and the cooperation of Syrian authorities.