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U.N. pulls “non-essential” Syria staff due insecurity | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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GENEVA, (Reuters) – The United Nations said on Monday it was withdrawing “all non-essential international staff” from Syria due to the worsening security situation, and was restricting remaining staff to the capital.

Up to 25 of about 100 international staff could leave this week, it said, adding that more armoured vehicles were needed following attacks on humanitarian aid convoys sometimes caught in crossfire between Syrian government and rebel forces.

“The U.N. has decided to send all non-essential international staff out of Syria and to halt all field trips outside of the capital for now,” the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement.