Some 2.5 million people face destitution in Syria as fighting grows ever more intense in populated areas, the UN top relief official said last week, calling on the Government and donors to facilitate more aid through NGOs on the ground.

"There is more we could be doing right now in areas that are safe enough and where we have established solid partnerships with NGOs and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent," said the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, as she neared the end of a three-day visit to the strife-torn country and Lebanon to see for herself the impact of the intensifying conflict and to discuss ways to increase humanitarian assistance.