Kuwait and Sweden reiterated their full commitment to follow up on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2401 demanding ceasefire in Syria and the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need as the Assad regime and its allies continue to violate the UN resolution.
Kuwait and Sweden, who submitted the draft of UNSC resolution 2401, said they were keen on the full implementation of the resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria.
In a speech on behalf of both his country and Sweden, Kuwaiti permanent representative to the UN Mansour Al-Otaibi told a UNSC meeting on Syria that the humanitarian situation there was getting much worse than before. “Today coincides with the eighth anniversary of the beginning of the Syrian conflict and still the demands for halting violence were not met,” he said.
UNSC resolution 2401 called for a 30-day ceasefire and allowing humanitarian workers to operate freely within Syria and especially in eastern Ghouta to help those in need, said Al-Otaibi. He indicated that a month had passed and the situation is becoming much bleaker.
The diplomat said that Kuwait and Sweden were keen on following up reports regarding the implementation of the resolution, adding that both countries encouraged the UN Secretariat to continue its efforts to ensure that the resolution was fully in effect.
On the current situation in eastern Ghouta, Al-Otaibi said that the situation was alarming with the continuation of bombardment by the Assad regime and its allies, resulting in many deaths and injuries amongst the civilian populace.
The Kuwaiti diplomat expressed particular concern about the continued onslaught by the Assad regime on eastern Ghouta as well as airstrikes on Dara’a and Idlib provinces.
Al-Otaibi stressed the importance of humanitarian convoys to continue to enter eastern Ghouta to relieve those who decided to stay there. He noted that these convoys should get into the Damascus suburb on a weekly basis as was stipulated in UN resolution 2401 which called for unfettered aces to medical supplies and UN personnel.
Moreover, Al-Otaibi called for end to human rights violations, most notably arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances and forced recruitment. He pointed out that the ensuring of protection is a concern for the civilians who chose to stay in eastern Ghouta and for those who left.
The United Nations on Monday called on the Assad regime to respect international humanitarian law and to protect civilians trapped in the town of Douma in the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta. The Assad regime and Russia forced most of eastern Ghouta residents to leave their homes in the largest mass forced displacement and demographic change operation in Syria since the revolution began in 2011.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday reiterated calls for the situation in Syria to be referred to the International Criminal Court as he stressed that accountability for serious violations is a requirement under international law and central to achieving sustainable peace in the country. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
