New York-SANA
Syria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh, affirmed that resolving the humanitarian crisis in Syria requires action by the Security Council to combat terrorism, to stop the repeated violations of Syria's sovereignty, and to demand an immediate and unconditional lifting of the illegal coercive measures imposed on its people, and to urge countries to increase early recovery projects and the need to abandon He expressed his silence regarding the politicization of the humanitarian aid file, the return of refugees, the systematic looting of the American occupation forces, and the irresponsible practices of the Turkish regime.
Sabbagh said in a statement today during a session of the Security Council on the political and humanitarian issue in Syria: This session is being held in light of the continuing challenges that Syria has been facing for years, foremost of which is the threat of terrorism and the illegal US and Turkish military presence on parts of the Syrian territories, and the escalation of repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian vital facilities and the exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis as a result of the failure to implement the requirements of the humanitarian response plan and the negative repercussions of the illegal unilateral coercive measures, which are nothing but a tool of collective punishment, indicating that the Security Council’s fulfillment of the mandate entrusted to it towards Syria is not only a legal responsibility, but also a moral and humanitarian necessity, which It requires the Council to condemn all such violations of Syrian sovereignty and demand their immediate and unconditional end.
Sabbagh explained that through the great efforts made by Syria in the fight against terrorism, large areas of land were liberated from the control of terrorist groups and returned to the confines of the state. Where all these measures contributed to the return of many Syrians to their homes and normal lives, and strengthened national unity and achieved stability in a sustainable manner.
Sabbagh pointed out that Syria dealt positively with the sincere efforts and initiatives that were presented within the framework of the political track, as it supported the meetings held in the Astana format and confirmed its follow-up to the work of the Constitution Discussion Committee that was agreed upon at the Syrian-Syrian National Dialogue Conference in Sochi in 2018 and maintained contact with the Special Envoy. To the Secretary-General to Syria, who visited Damascus during this month and met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, who assured him of the need for the Syrians alone to decide their fate and the future of their country without any external interference, in addition to the need to stop the violation of Syria's sovereignty and the immediate lifting of the unilateral, illegal and inhumane coercive measures.
Syria's permanent representative to the United Nations indicated that since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2642 last July, three sessions were held for the informal interactive dialogue stipulated in the resolution, and this dialogue was supposed to constitute a platform for assessing and following up the implementation of its contents, noting that a Syrian mission presented during those sessions In detail, the deficiencies in the implementation of the resolution and the failure of the will of some members of the Council to rise to the stage of implementing its measures aimed at alleviating the human suffering of the Syrian people and ways to overcome it.
Sabbagh pointed out that the “mechanism for delivering aid across the border” was a temporary measure imposed by exceptional circumstances that no longer exist, and that the insistence on continuing this mechanism, which is surrounded by many flaws and irregularities, reflects flagrant selectivity and clear discrimination among Syrians who deserve to receive humanitarian aid, stressing that the pursuit The frenzy of the United States and European Union countries to extend this mechanism through their claim of humanitarian concern for the Syrian people contradicts their unprecedented immoral and inhumane siege that they impose on them.
And Sabbagh indicated that there is insistence by some not to allow progress in the work of the aid delivery mechanism from within, in a clear indication of their endeavor to prove that this mechanism is unable to replace the “mechanism for introducing aid across borders,” despite its full consistency with the principles of Humanitarian action and its respect for Syrian sovereignty.
Sabbagh explained that the low funding for the Humanitarian Response Plan for Syria due to the failure of some Western countries to implement the commitments they made limits the effectiveness of efforts to improve the humanitarian and living conditions and hinders the implementation of early recovery projects, which has catastrophic effects on the daily lives of Syrians and prevents them from obtaining basic services.
The permanent representative of Syria to the United Nations pointed out that there is an unacceptable disregard for the impact of the continued looting of the American occupation forces and the militia associated with them of the national wealth of the Syrian people, such as oil and wheat, which caused the deprivation of the Syrians of their resources and exacerbated their human suffering in an unprecedented way, noting that the latest statistics indicated that The total value of direct and indirect losses caused by them and the forces of the so-called “international coalition” as a result of their robbery of the oil sector in Syria exceeded 100 billion dollars.
Sabbagh was surprised by the deliberate insistence of some, including in the Security Council, to hide the negative effects of the illegal unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States and European Union countries on the Syrian people, stressing that any allegations that they did not target all aspects of Syrians' lives is refuted by the reality of the suffering of the Syrians. And that any justifications for exceptions for non-existent humanitarian purposes are just plain lies.
Sabbagh pointed out that the continuation of the Turkish regime and its tools of terrorist organizations to cut off water from the Syrians and its use of it as a weapon of war against civilians deserves condemnation and denunciation, considering that depriving citizens of water is a war crime according to international humanitarian law, as it stifles the lives of more than a million citizens in Al-Hasakah Governorate. And their ability to access clean water exacerbates the spread of diseases, including cholera, and access to irrigation water, which creates a food security crisis for the Syrians.
Sabbagh explained that while Syria continues to provide facilities for the work of the United Nations and international organizations to ensure that the needs of the Syrians are met and support their steadfastness, it affirms that a solution to the humanitarian crisis will not be possible if the Security Council and the General Secretariat continue to remain silent regarding the politicization of the humanitarian aid file, the return of refugees and extortion. Which is practiced by some donors, the systematic looting of the American occupation forces, the irresponsible practices of the Turkish regime, and the neglect of the negative effects of immoral and inhumane coercive measures.
Sabbagh stressed that a solution to the humanitarian crisis in Syria is possible only when the Security Council acts immediately to combat terrorism and stop the repeated violations of Syria's sovereignty and calls for the immediate and unconditional lifting of coercive measures and calls on donors to implement their commitments they made regarding the humanitarian response plan and urges the increase and expansion of early recovery projects as well. And in quality and ensures the distribution of humanitarian relief aid fairly and without discrimination and addresses the danger of mines, unexploded ordnance and explosive devices that pose a real threat to the lives of Syrians.