President of the Syrian National Coalition, Anas al-Abda, on Monday sent a legal memorandum to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, stressing that “the continued failure of the international community to save the Syrian people from the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the World War II will lead to the breakdown of the credibility of international institutions in the eyes of peoples and governments.”
This failure will also “have a big impact on the political process and peace future in Syria and the region, which makes the threats to international peace and security an imminent reality,” the memo said. It stressed that the aerial bombardment and ground assault by Russia and regime on Idlib and Hama countryside is a blatant violation of the de-escalation zone agreement and utter disregard for international resolutions.
“As you know, the Syrian people are living the worst human tragedy the world has witnessed in the twenty-first century, with the bloody escalation of the attacks launched by the regime and its allies in recent months on Idlib. The suffering has worsened, and the waves of displacement increased after the regime invaded Ma’aret al-Numan and in the light of threats to invade Saraqib and other areas in Idlib.”
Al-Abda went on: “The displacement rates are seriously increasing. In the past two months, more than 700,000 people have been displaced to the area near Turkish border, 80% of them women and children.” He pointed out that more than 60 medical facilities have been targeted during the past six months.
“All this places your esteemed Council and the United Nations with doubled responsibilities that need different ways to ensure saving both civilians in Syria and the credibility of the United Nations.”
Al-Abda called for taking “effective measures that obligate the regime and its allies to comply with international resolutions and guarantee saving civilians in Syria, protect civilian objects and hospitals, and ensure taking necessary accountability measures to prevent impunity for those involved.”
Al-Abda concluded the letter saying: “The time has come to demonstrate the ability of the United Nations to carry out its duties by adopting urgent, new and effective strategies that protect the Syrian people, reform the international organization and salvage its credibility.” (Source: Syrian National Coalition’s Media Department)
