UN, Syrian Opposition Appeal for International Aid

A child sells bread in the streets of Aleppo, Syria, January 5, 2013.

United Nations humanitarian officials and Syrian opposition leaders are making separate appeals for international aid, as those affected by nearly two years of fighting struggle for basic services and rebels press their fight to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

John Ging, who is director of operations for the U.N. humanitarian agency, told reporters in New York Monday that an estimated 4 million people are in need of assistance, particularly for medical supplies and food aid.

"The situation in Syria as we all know continues to deteriorate and that means there are greater needs," he said. "More people in need, but also the needs are more acute as the coping mechanisms continue to collapse."

Ging led a U.N. team to Syria and Lebanon last week, and said the living conditions for people across Syria are "quite appalling."  He also described the "shocking scale of devastation" to the nation's infrastructure.

"We saw what you would expect. We saw the effects of 22 months of conflict. We saw a population that are very weary and quite despairing," he explained. "The infrastructure is significantly damaged. Both sides are targeting infrastructure."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is set to lead a humanitarian pledging conference Wednesday in Kuwait, with a goal of raising $1.5 billion to help civilians impacted by the fighting.

The Syrian opposition met with representatives of more than 50 nations Monday in Paris to appeal for $500 million to help set up a provisional government.

The Syrian National Coalition was formed in November and has since been recognized by more than 110 countries as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.  It is calling for President Assad, who has been in power for 12 years, to step down.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius urged donors to support the opposition. He said there is a desire for a Syria that can "free itself," and he warned of the risk of extremism and terrorism if aid falls short.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighting across Syria killed 60 people Monday.

The rebellion has evolved into civil war in which majority Sunni rebels and Islamist militants have been fighting to end the 12-year rule of Assad, a minority Alawite.

The United Nations estimates that more than 60,000 people have been killed since the Syrian uprising began with pro-democracy protests in March 2011, before evolving into a civil war.