The Syrian Opposition Coalition’s (SOC) General Assembly on Tuesday held an emergency meeting to discuss the field situation in northern Syria, the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northwestern Syria in light of the severe weather conditions affecting the region.
Members of the General Assembly began the meeting by expressing their thanks and appreciation for the tremendous efforts and fundraising campaigns launched by Molham Volunteer Team and a group of humanitarian organizations operating in northern Syria. The campaigns aim to mitigate the effects of the snowstorm hitting the region and secure relief aid for the IDPs, especially heating equipment.
The General Assembly stressed the need for swiftly tackling the problem of the unofficial IDPs camps in northern Syria and studying the possibility of transferring the IDPs to temporary housing units that would protect them from the severe weather conditions.
They stressed the importance of coordinating the efforts of the SOC, the Syrian Interim Government (SIG) and local councils. They also stressed the need to transition from emergency solutions to a sustainable response, especially in light of the persistence of reasons that prevent refugees and IDPs from returning to their homes.
Furthermore, the General Assembly stressed the need to step up support for SIG in order to enable it to improve services for the civilian population.
The General Assembly discussed the establishment of effective mechanisms and the development of plans and programs tailored for the IDPs, stressing the need of creating a ministry to take care of their affairs.
It also stressed the need to step up support for the Syrian refugees in Lebanon, especially those residing in camps in the Arsal region.
The General Assembly called on the international community and international rights groups to take urgent, immediate action to meet the needs of hundreds of Syrian households in Lebanon.
With regards to the situation in Al-Hasaka city, the General Assembly discussed the latest developments in the city and the ongoing violent clashes between the PYD terrorist militia and militants of the ISIS terrorist group.
The General Assembly called on the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to act urgently and provide all forms of support and assistance to civilians and those displaced as a result of the clashes. It stressed the need to allow a rights monitoring body access to investigate violations against the civilian population, especially the reports of reprisals and summary executions taking place in Ghweiran neighborhood. It warned that the ongoing displacement of the local population might turn into systematic displacement by the terrorist PYD militia with the purpose of ethnic cleansing.
The General Assembly valued the efforts to restructure and unify the military units and formations under the umbrella of the Syrian National Army as the force responsible for defending the liberated areas, ensuring their stability, and facing the upcoming challenges.
The General Assembly thanked all groups of the Syrian National Army for their contribution to alleviating the suffering of our people during the ongoing blizzard conditions in the IDPs camps in northern Syria.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
