Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
August 30, 2023
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) underscores the critical significance of acknowledging the humanitarian crisis that has arisen due to Russia’s veto on July 11th, effectively obstructing the delivery of essential aid to liberated regions in northwest Syria.
The dire consequences of this aid suspension are now evident in the liberated areas, where assistance to internally displaced individuals residing in IDP camps has been disrupted. Furthermore, the absence of UN aid convoys subsequent to the Russian veto has led to soaring prices of essential commodities, particularly food items. This is despite assertions of an understanding between the United Nations and the Assad regime to facilitate international aid through border access.
The SOC firmly asserts that entrusting the distribution of humanitarian aid to the Assad regime is untenable, both within its controlled territories and liberated areas. Numerous reports and images have substantiated that the regime manipulates humanitarian aid to bolster its military forces and allied militias in their campaign against the Syrian populace, while depriving deserving civilians. The SOC reiterates the urgency of reinstating the mechanism for cross-border humanitarian aid delivery, either bypassing the Russian veto or devising an alternative approach that disentangles this humanitarian endeavor from Russia’s political maneuvering. It is evident that Russia has weaponized humanitarian aid to support the Assad regime’s objectives in the ongoing war against the Syrian people.
Emphasizing the imperative to address Syria’s humanitarian situation, the SOC reiterates that the core issue is fundamentally political. Effectively mitigating the deteriorating humanitarian conditions hinges on achieving a political transition aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. This transition must fulfill the Syrian people’s aspirations for safety, freedom, justice, and accountability for the Assad regime’s war crimes in Syria..
