Despite Aid Deliveries, Millions of Syrians Still in Dire Need of Life-Saving Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs Chief Tells Security Council
Permanent Representative Describes Secretary-General’s Reports as Politicized
Although the United Nations and its partners were continuing to deliver life‑saving aid despite constant challenges, some 13.1 million people in Syria were still in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, the Under‑Secretary‑General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator told the Security Council today.
Introducing the Secretary‑General’s report (document S/2017/982), Mark Lowcock said that the United Nations 2018 Humanitarian Needs Overview for Syria, released last week, highlighted the continued plight of the Syrian people. Syria remained the world’s largest displacement crisis, with half of all Syrians displaced. Not only were an estimated 1.75 million children out of school, but one third of schools had been damaged or destroyed, and fewer than half of Syria’s health facilities were fully operational. Nearly three million people lived in besieged and hard to reach areas, 94 per cent of them in eastern Ghouta.
Fighting had escalated in eastern Ghouta and Damascus, he reported. Therefore, news of a ceasefire in eastern Ghouta, if sustained, was important. However, he was extremely worried about the food crisis in eastern Ghouta, he said, adding that only 100,000 people out of an estimated population of 400,000 had received food assistance. Severe acute malnutrition rates among children in eastern Ghouta had increased fivefold in the past 10 months.
Describing humanitarian situations in other areas, including Raqqa Governorate and along the Syrian‑Jordanian border, he said that despite constant challenges, the United Nations and its partners were continuing to provide life‑saving assistance to millions of people every month. Yet, while assistance to areas under control of the Government continued to be the majority of the Organization’s response, cross‑line convoys continued to be heavily restricted.
Cross‑border deliveries of humanitarian assistance, monitored by the United Nations Monitoring Mechanism, to north‑western and southern Syria had reached more than 750,000 people each month over the last ten months. However, civilians in areas not under the control of the Government were being reached in much larger numbers, and with much more comprehensive support, through cross‑border operation than through cross‑line operations. It was for that reason, he said, that the renewal of Security Council resolution 2165 (2014) was essential to save lives.
The representative of the United States said that in eastern Ghouta, the Assad regime was pummelling a population that had been starving for months. “The objective is not peace but domination,” she stated, and called on those with influence over the regime, particularly the Russian Federation, to demand that all areas receive assistance and that civilians were protected from air strikes. Underlining the critical importance of the authorization for cross‑border assistance, as it had enabled regular delivery to 1 million people, she called for maintenance of the rare Council unity on that issue.
The Russian Federation’s representative said that his country was engaged with armed groups in eastern Ghouta on issues of humanitarian assistance and medical evacuation. He also noted that the Syrian Government had announced a period of calm in that area. Turning to cross‑border deliveries, he said any discussion on the issue would be difficult because the provisions of resolution 2165 (2014) were not being complied with. Cross‑border aid needed to reach all areas of Syria, he stated, requesting a briefing in that regard. The Monitoring Mechanism, based on an emergency measure, needed to be reassessed.
Syria’s representative called for an end to the use of humanitarian reports as a tool for those who criticized his Government, which was allowing access of all aid targeted for civilians to be properly delivered. Humanitarian reports had been politicized and were not using the most reliable source of information, that of the Syrian Government. Cross‑border aid did not help the situation, but provided movement and supply opportunities for armed terrorists, he said, adding that United Nations staff must not deal with secessionist entities or terrorist groups. He called on those who wrote the humanitarian report to hold the Coalition, led by the United States, responsible for the deaths of hundreds and the destruction of entire neighbourhoods in Raqqa. He also called for coverage, in future reports, of the deep humanitarian impact of unilateral measures against his Government, including the lack of fulfilment of assistance pledges.
Also speaking were representatives of Uruguay, Bolivia, Kazakhstan and France.
The meeting began at 10:11 a.m. and ended at 11:14 a.m.
Briefing
MARK LOWCOCK, Under‑Secretary‑General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, introducing the Secretary‑General’s report, Implementation of Security Council resolutions 2139 (2014), 2165 (2014), 2191 (2014) and 2332 (2016) (document S/2017/982), said that the United Nations 2018 Humanitarian Needs Overview for Syria, released last week, highlighted the continued plight of the Syrian people. Some 13.1 million people in Syria urgently needed humanitarian assistance.
Syria remained the world’s largest displacement crisis, with half of all Syrians displaced, he continued. Not only were an estimated 1.75 million children out of school, but one third of schools had been damaged or destroyed, and fewer than half of Syria’s health facilities were fully operational. Nearly three million people lived in besieged and hard to reach areas, 94 per cent of them in eastern Ghouta.
Fighting had escalated in eastern Ghouta and Damascus, he reported. Therefore, news of a ceasefire in eastern Ghouta, if sustained, was important. However, he was extremely worried about the food crisis in eastern Ghouta, he said, adding that only 100,000 people out of an estimated population of 400,000 had received food assistance. He was also deeply concerned about a growing number of people, including children, with complex medical cases who required urgent medical evacuations. Severe acute malnutrition rates among children in eastern Ghouta had increased fivefold in the past 10 months.
The situation in north‑east Syria also remained a cause for concern, as fighting continued down the Euphrates River towards the border with Iraq, he said. Air strikes and clashes had displaced more than 436,000 people from and within Raqqa Governorate. The risk of explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices continued to hamper humanitarian access. In addition, new restrictions on humanitarian deliveries were limiting access. Since 9 November, the United Nations had faced bureaucratic impediments imposed by the parties in the area.
At least 30,000 Syrians remained stranded in dire circumstances on the “berm” along the Syrian‑Jordanian border, he noted, and he called on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure as required under international humanitarian law and human rights law, and to allow unimpeded humanitarian access to those in need.
Despite constant challenges, the United Nations and its partners were continuing to provide live‑saving assistance to millions of people every month, he said. Yet, while assistance to areas under control of the Government continued to be the majority of the Organization’s response, cross‑line convoys continued to be heavily restricted. Just over a quarter of the beneficiaries slated to receive aid, had, despite an agreement with the Government on bimonthly access plans and the creation of the de‑escalation zones. Medical items continued to be removed from convoys.
The United Nations was also continuing to deliver assistance in north‑western and southern Syria via cross‑border deliveries, he said. That cross‑border assistance was being verified by the United Nations Monitoring Mechanism, with every truck being checked to ensure it only contained humanitarian supplies. During the first ten months of 2017, more than 750,000 people had been reached through cross‑border activities each month.
He stressed that because needs remained high, it was important to preserve all means of access. Civilians in areas not under the control of the Government were being reached in much larger numbers, and with much more comprehensive support through cross‑border operation than through cross‑line operations. It was for that reason that the renewal of Security Council resolution 2165 (2014) was essential to save lives.
Statements
LUIS HOMERO BERMÚDEZ ÁLVAREZ (Uruguay), paying tribute to the humanitarian workers risking their lives, welcomed the reports of ceasefire agreements. He expressed hope that such a confidence‑building measure signalled further progress and alleviation of suffering in Syria. Reiterating his call that humanitarian access be uninhibited, he stressed that it was important to renew authorization for cross‑border assistance, as well as provide adequate protection for humanitarian workers. Reaffirming that blocking aid could amount to a war crime, he echoed the Secretary‑General’s call to bring cases of violations to the International Criminal Court. As for the continued strikes in eastern Ghouta, he urged that local ceasefires be strengthened and that all sieges be lifted so that provisions allowing civilians to survive be delivered. He also called for more opportunities for resettlement of refugees from Syria.
SACHA SERGIO LLORENTTY SOLÍZ (Bolivia) welcomed efforts to create and strengthen de‑escalation zones, stressing nevertheless that such initiatives must be temporary and not threaten the territorial integrity of Syria. The liberation of territory from Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) must be accompanied by efforts to protect civilians and their infrastructure. The elimination of lurking explosive devices was essential in that regard. Civil casualties must be avoided in all operations; obstacles to humanitarian aid must be lifted; and safety of humanitarian personnel should be assured, he emphasized. Echoing criticism of the destruction of vaccines due to air strikes, he also underlined that the humanitarian crisis in Syria would only end through an inclusive political solution.
MICHELE J. SISON (United States), citing examples of struggling families that illustrated the dire situation of people living under siege in Syria, said that in eastern Ghouta, the Assad regime was pummelling a population that had been starving for months. “The objective is not peace but domination,” she stated. Pointing to continued severe restriction of aid deliveries in besieged areas, she said that the regime, along with its ally Hizbullah, had also stolen medical supplies and other assistance. It was all being done under the false pretence that the regime was acting in support of the Syrian people. Those with influence over the regime, particularly the Russian Federation, should demand that all areas receive assistance and that civilians be protected from air strikes. Renewal of the authorization for cross‑border assistance was critical, as it had enabled regular delivery to 1 million people. Affirming that those operations were closely monitored, she called for maintenance of the rare Council unity on that issue.
VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation), noting that the Astana process had led to improvement in the humanitarian situation, said that progress was needed on the parallel track of mine clearance. As well, unilateral sanctions were hampering humanitarian deliveries. The crisis in Raqqa was due to the reckless activities by the armed opposition under the control of the Coalition. The United Nations could not conduct assessment missions there. Following Raqqa’s liberation from ISIL, without any monitoring, the situation became a closed book, with reports that a deal had been reached between the armed opposition of the Coalition and ISIL. Assistance to the residents and displaced people of Raqqa should not be to the detriment of people living in Government‑controlled areas. As for eastern Ghouta, he said his country was engaged with armed groups on issues of humanitarian assistance and medical evacuation. The Government had announced a period of calm in that area. On the issue of cross‑border deliveries, any discussion would be difficult because of a lack of monitoring; the provisions of resolution 2165 (2014) were not being complied with. Cross‑border aid needed to reach all areas of Syria, he said, requesting a briefing in that regard. The Mechanism, based on an emergency measure, needed to be reassessed. He called for more order in humanitarian assistance to prevent it from falling into terrorist hands.
KAIRAT UMAROV (Kazakhstan) stressed that efforts to stabilize de‑escalation zones and deliver humanitarian assistance must comply with international humanitarian law. In order to assure such delivery, it was important to unite the efforts of all Member States and to find a political solution to the crisis. He then described the efforts in his country’s capital on measures to establish trust between the parties, including exchange of information on missing persons, emphasizing that only full compliance with a ceasefire agreement would help in humanitarian access.
FRANÇOIS DELATTRE (France), expressing concern over the persistent besieging of the population, attacks against hospitals and rising death toll from bombings in eastern Ghouta, said that all such actions were squarely in violation of all humanitarian law. He called on States with influence on the Syrian regime to end such practices, including the removal of medical material from aid convoys. He reiterated his strong denouncement of those actions as well as the blockage of humanitarian access. Cross‑border assistance remained absolutely critical, he underscored, calling for unity and responsibility for the safeguarding of a fundamental gain. An effective cessation of fighting was crucial, and political progress was needed so that a lasting solution could be reached. Although his country would continue to provide aid, it must be understood that only a Syrian‑led political solution would significantly decrease the suffering of the Syrian people. He called for restoration of Council unity toward that goal.
MOUNZER MOUNZER (Syria) called for the end of the double standards in the work of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the use of humanitarian reports as a tool for those who criticized his Government. Humanitarian reports had been politicized and were not using the most reliable source of information, that of the Syrian Government. In fact, his Government was allowing access of all aid targeted for civilians to be properly delivered. Millions of dollars of aid had already been delivered under Government arrangements. In recent months, coordination mechanisms had achieved significant progress in ensuring access to those who needed it, including those in areas recently liberated from armed terrorist groups. However, such groups were still continuing to control areas of the country, thus preventing civilians from receiving aid. Cross‑border aid did not help the situation, but provided movement and supply opportunities for armed terrorists.
He said that United Nations staff must not deal with secessionist entities or terrorist groups. Illegal crossing points must be shut down. Civilians in eastern Ghouta were under an internal siege by armed groups that were using them as human shields and confiscating aid for their own purposes. He also called on those who wrote the humanitarian report to hold the Coalition, led by the United States, responsible for the deaths of hundreds and the destruction of entire neighbourhoods in Raqqa where white phosphorus and other illegal weapons had been used. He also called for coverage, in future reports, of the deep humanitarian impact of unilateral measures against his Government, including the lack of fulfilment of assistance pledges. As for calls that the situation be referred to the International Criminal Court, he said that the Court had lost any credibility and the international investigative mechanisms in his country were rife with flaws. Rejecting those bodies’ competency, he called for professionalism on the part of United Nations humanitarian agencies and an end to politicization of humanitarian aid.