The Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Friday stressed the need to step up humanitarian assistance, as the situation in Syria is deteriorating.

"Stepping up assistance is the priority at hand. At present, the Syrian humanitarian situation is deteriorating. Syria and its neighbors have a rising demand for humanitarian assistance," said Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, during a Security Council meeting on the continuing conflict in Syria and the humanitarian and refugee crises.

China called upon the donors to honor their commitment on time and in full so as to mitigate the pressure resulting from the shortage of funds, Liu said.

"China attaches great importance to the humanitarian situation in Syria. We sympathize with the Syrian people for their suffering. Through various channels, we have provided material and cash support to the Syrian people including its overseas refugees, totaling over 230 million yuan," Liu said.

Furthermore, Liu assured that "China will, in accordance with the development of the situation and its actual needs, continue to provide, to the best of its ability, assistance to the Syrian people, including its overseas refugees."

In addition, Liu highlighted the importance of a political solution.

"The international community should unswervingly pursue a political solution, give full play to the mediation of the UN as the main channel," Liu said.

Also at the same meeting, Angelina Jolie Pitt, special envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, highlighted the need to help the Syrian refugees and provide them legal avenues to safety.

The Syrian crisis had left 220,000 people dead, more than one million injured and 7.6 million displaced, according to UN Under- Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos. Enditem

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