Doha: Foreign Minister H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah has sent messages to Ilebo Oscar Rosselli Ferrera, President of the United Nations Security Council Elbio Rosselli, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President of the UN General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, especially Zabadani, Madaya, Bugen and Bludan towns, due to the blockade imposed on the civilians.
He said the blockade within the context of a systematic policy of the Syrian regime and its cronies to use starvation as a weapon, continues to block food, medical supplies and basic needs for the Syrian people as collective punishment and imposes a siege on populated areas as is the case in the neighbourhoods of the city of Homs, Eastern Ghouta and the towns of Darya, Moadamieh, Rural Damascus and others.
He said the regime forces, supported by militias, had imposed a tight siege on Madaya in an attempt to give the population a choice between hunger or kneeling to a regime that continues to kill its people.
As part of the policy, the Minister said, the regime forces and militia were preventing the arrival of humanitarian aid and stopping people from getting out of the town, resulting in a deteriorating and tragic humanitarian situation which has led to the death of over 30 people so far because of hunger and malnutrition and causing suffering to about 40,000 of the population threatened with starvation.
He stressed that continued insistence of the Syrian regime and its cronies on the use of the siege of civilian areas and the policy of starvation as a weapon is a war crime and a crime against humanity, and the siege on the towns is in blatant violation of the Security Council’s related resolutions, particularly 2139 and 2165 as well as 2191 and 2258 which call for an immediate lifting of the siege on populated areas, with a reminder that starvation as a fighting method is prohibited under international humanitarian law.
Dr. Al Attiyah said it is regrettable that such crimes are committed under the silence of the international community, coupled with the absence of the principle of accountability and lack of immediate action to ensure implementation of relevant resolutions.
He praised UN efforts to contribute to finding a political solution to the crisis and end the humanitarian suffering of the Syrian people. Dr Al Attiyah also highlighted the importance of exerting all possible effort to put an end to illegal actions that stand in the face of reaching a political solution.
The Minister expressed confidence in UN endeavours to address the dire humanitarian situation, lift the siege on Madaya and other areas, put an end to the policies of siege and starvation, denial of access to humanitarian assistance and all actions that are inconsistent with international law and Security Council resolutions.
He hoped that measures would be taken to ensure prompt and regular delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance, including basic food and baby milk, to trapped civilians in Madaya and other besieged areas by all available means necessitated by the urgency of the situation, through land and air.
Dr Al Attiyah also hoped that actions would be taken as part of measures called for by the Security Council pursuant to paragraph 6 of resolution 2258 (2015).
FM meets Syrian opposition figure
The Foreign Minister yesterday met Riyad Hijab, General Coordinator for Opposition’s Negotiations Committee in Syria and discussed the deterioration of humanitarian situation in Syria, particularly in Al Zabadani and Bludan under siege by the Syrian regime’s forces. Qatar’s permanent envoy to the United Nations Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani and ministry officials were present.
QNA
Doha: Foreign Minister H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah has sent messages to Ilebo Oscar Rosselli Ferrera, President of the United Nations Security Council Elbio Rosselli, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President of the UN General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, especially Zabadani, Madaya, Bugen and Bludan towns, due to the blockade imposed on the civilians.
He said the blockade within the context of a systematic policy of the Syrian regime and its cronies to use starvation as a weapon, continues to block food, medical supplies and basic needs for the Syrian people as collective punishment and imposes a siege on populated areas as is the case in the neighbourhoods of the city of Homs, Eastern Ghouta and the towns of Darya, Moadamieh, Rural Damascus and others.
He said the regime forces, supported by militias, had imposed a tight siege on Madaya in an attempt to give the population a choice between hunger or kneeling to a regime that continues to kill its people.
As part of the policy, the Minister said, the regime forces and militia were preventing the arrival of humanitarian aid and stopping people from getting out of the town, resulting in a deteriorating and tragic humanitarian situation which has led to the death of over 30 people so far because of hunger and malnutrition and causing suffering to about 40,000 of the population threatened with starvation.
He stressed that continued insistence of the Syrian regime and its cronies on the use of the siege of civilian areas and the policy of starvation as a weapon is a war crime and a crime against humanity, and the siege on the towns is in blatant violation of the Security Council’s related resolutions, particularly 2139 and 2165 as well as 2191 and 2258 which call for an immediate lifting of the siege on populated areas, with a reminder that starvation as a fighting method is prohibited under international humanitarian law.
Dr. Al Attiyah said it is regrettable that such crimes are committed under the silence of the international community, coupled with the absence of the principle of accountability and lack of immediate action to ensure implementation of relevant resolutions.
He praised UN efforts to contribute to finding a political solution to the crisis and end the humanitarian suffering of the Syrian people. Dr Al Attiyah also highlighted the importance of exerting all possible effort to put an end to illegal actions that stand in the face of reaching a political solution.
The Minister expressed confidence in UN endeavours to address the dire humanitarian situation, lift the siege on Madaya and other areas, put an end to the policies of siege and starvation, denial of access to humanitarian assistance and all actions that are inconsistent with international law and Security Council resolutions.
He hoped that measures would be taken to ensure prompt and regular delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance, including basic food and baby milk, to trapped civilians in Madaya and other besieged areas by all available means necessitated by the urgency of the situation, through land and air.
Dr Al Attiyah also hoped that actions would be taken as part of measures called for by the Security Council pursuant to paragraph 6 of resolution 2258 (2015).
FM meets Syrian opposition figure
The Foreign Minister yesterday met Riyad Hijab, General Coordinator for Opposition’s Negotiations Committee in Syria and discussed the deterioration of humanitarian situation in Syria, particularly in Al Zabadani and Bludan under siege by the Syrian regime’s forces. Qatar’s permanent envoy to the United Nations Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani and ministry officials were present.
QNA
