Security Council Adopts Resolution 2328 (2016), Demanding Immediate, Unhindered Access for Monitoring of Civilian Evacuations from Aleppo

Alarmed by the continuing deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Syrian city of Aleppo, the Security Council demanded today that all parties ensure safe, immediate and unhindered access for the monitoring of evacuations from the city’s eastern districts and for the protection of civilians throughout the country.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2328 (2016), the 15-nation Council requested that the United Nations and other relevant institutions carry out adequate, neutral and direct observation, and ensure further deployment of staff as needed.  It further requested that the Secretary-General take urgent steps to make arrangements that would allow the Organization to observe the well-being of civilians, and to report on the text’s implementation within five days.

Taking note of the efforts to evacuate civilians and fighters affected by the conflict, the Council stressed that they must be conducted in accordance with the principles of international humanitarian law.  It also stressed the importance of ensuring voluntary, safe and dignified passage of all civilians from the eastern districts of Aleppo to a destination of their choice, giving priority to the most vulnerable and seriously wounded.

Also by the text, it called on all parties to respect and protect all medical and humanitarian personnel, their means of transportation and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities throughout the country.

The meeting began at 09:04 a.m. and ended at 09:06 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2328 (2016) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling all its relevant resolutions, especially 2139 (2014), 2165 (2014), 2191 (2014), 2258 (2015) and 2286 (2016);

“Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic;

“Alarmed by the continued deterioration of the devastating humanitarian situation in Aleppo and by the fact that urgent humanitarian evacuations and assistance are now needed by a large number of Aleppo inhabitants;

“Recalling the need for all parties to respect the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law and the United Nations guiding principles of humanitarian emergency assistance;

“1.   Takes note of the efforts to carry out evacuations of civilians and fighters from the districts of the city of Aleppo affected by the conflict;

“2.   Stresses that these evacuations must be conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law and principles, and emphasizes that the evacuations of civilians must be voluntary and to final destinations of their choice, and protection must be provided to all civilians who choose or who have been forced to be evacuated and those who opt to remain in their homes;

“3. Requests the United Nations and other relevant institutions to carry out adequate, neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations from the eastern districts of Aleppo and other districts of the city, and to report as appropriate thereon, to ensure further deployment of staff for these purposes as needed and demands all parties to provide these monitors with safe, immediate and unimpeded access;

“4.   Stresses the importance to ensure the voluntary, safe and dignified passage of all civilians from the eastern districts of Aleppo or other areas, under the monitoring of and coordination by the United Nations and other relevant institutions, to a destination of their choice; stresses that in such circumstances, priority should be given to the most seriously wounded people and the most vulnerable and calls on all the parties to cooperate with the United Nations in this regard;

“5.   Demands that all parties allow complete, immediate, unconditional, safe and unhindered access for the United Nations and its implementing partners, in order to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches people through the most direct route in order to meet basic needs, including the provision of medical care, consistent with the provisions of its resolution 2258 (2015) for the whole of Syria and respect and protect all civilians across Aleppo and throughout Syria; stresses that all parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, and in particular, to respect and protect civilians and civilian objects;

“6    Calls on all parties to respect and protect all medical and humanitarian personnel, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities throughout the country, consistent with its resolution 2286 (2016);

“7.   Requests the Secretary-General to take urgent steps to make arrangements, including security arrangements in consultation with interested parties, to allow the observation by the United Nations and other relevant institutions of the well-being of civilians, as well as the full respect of international humanitarian law, inside the eastern districts of the city of Aleppo; notify the Security Council about these arrangements and to carry out the above mentioned activity immediately thereupon,

“8.   Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the implementation of this resolution, including by the parties on the ground, within 5 days of adoption of this resolution;

“9.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”