UN humanitarian chief calls for massive aid boost for Syria: AFP interview

Visiting UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called Wednesday for a massive aid boost for Syria to respond to "this moment of hope" after the ouster of longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad.

"Across the country, the needs are huge. Seven in 10 people are needing support right now," Fletcher told AFP in a telephone interview as he visited Syria.

"I want to scale up massively international support, but that now depends on donors. The Syria fund has been historically, shamefully underfunded and now there is this opportunity," he said.

"The Syrian people are trying to come home when it's safe to do so, to rebuild their country, to rebuild their communities and their lives.

"We have to get behind them and respond to this moment of hope. And if we don't do that quickly, then I fear that this window will close."

Half of Syria's population were forced from their homes during nearly 14 years of civil war, with millions finding refuge abroad.

UN officials have said a $4 billion appeal for Syria aid is less than a third funded.

Fletcher said he received "the strongest possible reassurances" from Syria's new administration that aid workers would have the necessary access on the ground.

"We need unhindered, unfettered access to the people that we're here to serve. We need the crossings open so we can get massive amounts of aid through... We need to ensure that humanitarian workers can go where they need to go without restriction, with protection," he said.

"I received the strongest possible reassurances from the top of that caretaker administration that they will give us that support that we need. Let's test that now in the period ahead."