A delegation from the Syrian National Coalition met with Personal Representative of the President of the French Republic, Ambassador for Syria François Sénémaud to discuss the grave situation in Idlib and the need for a ceasefire and protection of civilians. The delegation comprised the Coalition’s Secretary-General Abdel Baset Abdel Latif and Coordinator of the Department of Foreign Relations, Abdulahad Astepho.
The visit came as part of an international campaign being carried out by the Coalition which sent several delegations to European capitals, Washington, and the United Nations with the aim of pressuring the international community to bring an end to the Russian and Assad regime’s intensifying onslaught on Idlib and Aleppo.
The delegation talked about the dire humanitarian conditions and the immense suffering of civilians in northwestern Syria. They said that the regime’s assault killed hundreds of civilians, while dozens of injured people are at risk of death due to lack of healthcare resulting from the regime and its allies’ targeting of the majority of medical facilities in the region.
For his part, Sénémaud stressed that what is happening in Idlib is a major scandal as he pointed out that in every international forum, his country’s government demanded the immediate cessation of military operations, the establishment of a real ceasefire, the protection of civilians, and the stepping up of humanitarian assistance.
Sénémaud reaffirmed France’s support for the Syrian Coalition and the cause of the Syrian people, stressing that there is no real political process without a strong opposition.
The delegation made it clear that the lives of four million civilians in the region will be at serious risk if the international community fails to put an end to the ongoing carnage. “Those who did not die by bombing will die from cold or lack of medical care.”
The delegation called for taking immediate measures to address the humanitarian crisis in northwestern Syria, especially in Idlib province by providing humanitarian assistance and meeting the basic and urgent needs, especially shelter, food, education and healthcare services.
It also stressed the need for an immediate end to all military operations in the region and explicit condemnation of the regime’s blatant violations against Syrian civilians, especially in northwestern Syria.
The delegation called for supporting efforts to protect civilians and ensure an end to hostilities across the country as a necessary confidence-building measure paving the way for the resumption of the political process. (Source: Syrian National Coalition’s Media Department)
