The UN Security Council was briefed on the humanitarian situation in Syria Tuesday for the 23rd time since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2139.
Despite the resolution’s demand for the cessation of all violence against civilians, each month since February 2014 has seen an increase in the civilian death toll and a worsening of Syria’s humanitarian situation.
Tragically, recent weeks have been no exception. Less than 48 hours after the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2254, the Assad regime and Russian forces jointly escalated their war on civilians across Syria, killing innocent men, women and children through indiscriminate aerial attacks in opposition-held areas in Idleb city.
“Sunday’s attacks on Idleb offers yet another horrific example of Russia’s targeting of innocent civilians, and they are a clear violation of Security Council 2254, which demands that all parties cease their indiscriminate attacks on civilians,” said Dr. Najib Ghadbian, the special representative to the United Nations for the Syrian National Coalition.
“If Russia is serious about contributing to a political solution in Syria, then it must cease these indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Failure to do so will only jeopardize the Vienna process and work to the benefit of terrorist extremist groups.”
Ahead of Tuesday’s briefing on the humanitarian situation in Syria, Dr. Ghadbian delivered a letter to the Security Council calling for comprehensive action by Security Council members to protect Syrian civilians, enforce existing Security Council resolutions, and ensure accountability.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
