New York-Sana
Syria's permanent representative to the United Nations, Bassam Sabbagh, reiterated the need to immediately lift the illegal siege imposed by the United States and the European Union on the Syrian people, which represents collective punishment and economic terrorism that greatly harms the state's efforts in the humanitarian and development fields and the ability of Syrians to obtain their basic needs.
During a session of the Security Council today, Sabbagh indicated that during the period following the council's recent discussion of the humanitarian situation, Syria witnessed a number of meetings and visits of representatives of the United Nations, its agencies and specialized programs, which fall within the context of Syria continuing its constructive cooperation with those UN agencies and other partners to improve the humanitarian situation and provide Services and support for those in need throughout the country, expressing hope that the visit of the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths to Syria will contribute to correcting the course of the relationship with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs “OCHA” and strengthening cooperation with it in accordance with the principles of humanitarian action established by the General Assembly and professional and objective standards Away from politicization and the dictates of the loyalties of some Western governments.
Sabbagh explained that after a long obstruction by the Turkish occupation forces and its tools from terrorist organizations, the convoy of the World Food Program, which was approved by the Syrian government several months ago, was able to reach Sarmada in northwestern Syria via the lines from Aleppo in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, pointing out that the parties The concerned Syrian government has taken all necessary measures to provide a safe passage for this convoy and to ensure the security and safety of the United Nations and national teams responsible for it, who cost the soldier “Munawar Hassan Salem” his life, as he was martyred while performing his duty to secure the passage of the convoy, as a result of the explosion of a mine planted by terrorist organizations agent of the Turkish occupation On the road designated for crossing trucks.
Sabbagh expressed Syria's condemnation of the Turkish occupation forces and its terrorist tools obstructing the implementation of the aid convoy to the Atarib region in northwestern Syria from the inside. At the same time, with the approval of the Syrian government and in close coordination with the United Nations agencies and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, an inter-agency aid convoy was conducted to Daraa governorate, and the World Food Program resumed implementing its monthly programs and distributing food baskets there after ensuring the security and safety of the convoy and humanitarian teams, and that aid reached its beneficiaries. .
Sabbagh referred to the Secretary-General's recent report, which confirmed that during the period between last January and July, 1,588 trucks crossed to provide humanitarian aid, i.e. an average of 227 trucks per month, compared to 199 trucks during the same period in 2020, and the World Health Organization delivered three shipments. Through two air bridges and one land convoy, the report also reiterated the provision of aid to millions of Syrians in all governorates, including food aid to about four million and eight hundred thousand people, stressing that all these achievements would not have been possible without the cooperation, facilities and support provided by the Syrian government.
Syria's permanent representative to the United Nations reiterated Syria's commitment to work to deliver aid from within and its adherence to its position calling for an end to the politicized "cross-border mechanism" that violates its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and exposing the hostile role played by the Gaziantep office and the fabricated reports it presents.
Sabbagh pointed out that the coercive measures imposed by some Western countries on Syria led to a significant shortage of food, medicine, medical supplies, fuel and electric power, which requires urgent dealing with this issue, especially with the spread of the Corona epidemic posing an additional threat to the health of Syrians, as the suffering of the health sector increased as a result of The shortage of medicines, supplies and equipment of all kinds, especially those related to respiratory and heart diseases and cancer medicines, which prevent these measures from securing them, pointing to the fact that Britain, which does not stop claiming humanitarian concern, is obstructing efforts aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Syrian health sector to respond to the epidemic and preventing the competent laboratories from obtaining on the equipment necessary to carry out the relevant tests.
Sabbagh stressed that improving the humanitarian situation requires full respect for Syria's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and integrity, a principle confirmed by all relevant Security Council resolutions, and the necessity of ending the illegal foreign military presence on Syrian territory and stopping the crimes and practices of the US and Turkish occupation forces based on prolonging the crisis and supporting terrorism. and its client militias, and looting wealth and economic resources, pointing to the need to compel the Turkish regime to stop using water as a weapon of war against the Syrians and to use it for political purposes in order to ensure the continuity of the work of the Allouk water station and the flow of the Euphrates River according to the rates agreed upon between the two countries.
Sabbagh stressed the need to immediately and unconditionally lift the illegal and immoral blockade imposed by the United States and the European Union on the Syrian people, which represents collective punishment and economic terrorism that seriously harms the Syrian government's humanitarian and development efforts and the ability of Syrians to obtain their basic needs, pointing to the importance of fulfilling the pledges. announced to finance the humanitarian response plan, whose funding rate to date has reached only about 25%, and we are in the last quarter of the year, supporting the implementation of early recovery projects confirmed by Security Council Resolution 2585, increasing them in quantity and quality, and rejecting any attempts by hostile countries to impose programs and projects that are inconsistent with Syrian national interests.
Sabbagh pointed to the importance of enabling the United Nations to complete an agreement with the Syrian government on the strategic framework that some Western governments continue to obstruct and to start implementing to ensure support for efforts to achieve sustainable development and not be left behind, and the need for those governments to stop their destructive approach and stop investing in terrorism. And the formation of illegal alliances under the pretext of combating it and spending billions of dollars on waging pointless wars and destabilizing the security and stability of member states of the international organization.
Sabbagh reiterated that Syria's hand is extended to embark on a new phase of cooperation and will continue to provide facilities for the work of the United Nations and its competent agencies in light of its full adherence to Syria's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and safety. and the necessary facilities to ensure the return of the displaced to their homes.