A/HRC/21/32 establishment of a national independent legal commission to investigate all crisis-related crimes, reporting that it had reviewed more than 6,400 complaints and referred a large number of cases to the competent authorities. The Government also referred to a special commission of inquiry that it had established to investigate the events of Al-Houla of May 2012. The Government stated that both commissions enjoyed wide powers in accordance with the highest international standards, including the authority to demand access to any information deemed necessary. In the Government’s view, the commissions had proven their ability to provide justice at the national level. In this context, the Government stated that the relevant authorities had imposed disciplinary sanctions against a number of members of Government forces, while others remained under investigation or were facing trial by competent courts. B. Humanitarian assistance 29. In paragraph 9 of its resolution 19/22, the Human Rights Council urged the Syrian authorities to ensure timely, safe and unhindered access for all humanitarian actors and to ensure the safe passage of humanitarian and medical supplies into the country. The humanitarian situation continued to deteriorate as a result of the intensified fighting. The continued violence and fighting hampered efforts to address humanitarian needs. Humanitarian actors estimated that, as at 13 July 2012, there were 1.5 million people affected by the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic. 30. During the period under review, attacks on hospitals, medical facilities and ambulances increased, as did direct threats to and killings of medical personnel. Moreover, access to health, especially for those perceived to be affiliated with the opposition or antiGovernment armed groups, was undermined by the occupation and use of hospitals as military bases or by the presence of Government forces inside or in the proximity of hospitals. Furthermore, there were reports of destroyed, burned or ransacked medical facilities by anti-Government armed groups. There were also reports that hospitals were used as military bases also by anti-Government armed groups. 31. Since my previous report on the implementation of resolution 19/22, the Government has agreed to the Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan and the United Nations has scaled up its humanitarian assistance. Up to 800,000 people were provided with food assistance in July 2012. Non-food items, emergency health assistance, remedial education and other activities also increased. Despite the challenging security situation during the period under review, following the agreement with the Government, the United Nations was in the process of expanding its presence. Eight international nongovernmental organizations launched their humanitarian response to the affected population and an increasing number of national non-governmental and community-based organizations were participating in the humanitarian response as of 13 July 2012. These efforts, however, remain insufficient to meet the growing needs. 32. In this context, the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic recalled that, in March 2012, it jointly led a process to assess the humanitarian needs of those affected by the crisis. It stressed that it had implemented its commitment to allow the distribution of humanitarian aid in accordance with the relevant United Nations memorandum of understanding. Nevertheless, as at mid-July, only a small portion of the Humanitarian Response Plan had been funded, thus hindering the humanitarian response. The Government reported that it was also directly providing humanitarian assistance, including medical aid, food and other services, to those in need, and was implementing projects to reconstruct buildings to facilitate the return of displaced persons to their homes. 33. In its notes verbales dated 19 June and 16 July 2012, the Government stated that “terrorist armed groups” had prevented humanitarian aid from reaching those in need and 9