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8332nd Security Council Meeting: Situation in Middle East
Escalating military clashes and renewed air strikes in north‑west Syria — especially Idlib Governorate, covered under an international “de‑escalation zone” agreement — represent a worrying trend, threatening some 3 million residents as well as the already fragile delivery of aid, a senior United Nations humanitarian official told the Security Council today.
John Ging, Director of Operations and Advocacy for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, introducing findings laid out in the Secretary‑General’s report (document S/2018/777), said recent weeks have seen a further serious deterioration of the humanitarian situation in north‑west Syria. On 10 August, air strikes in western Aleppo reportedly killed 41 civilians and wounded more than 70. On the same day, bombs were dropped in southern Idlib, killing 12 civilians, and on 12 August 67 people were reported killed when a weapons depot exploded in rural Idlib. The same period also saw reports of attacks against health facilities and other civilian infrastructure.
Noting that aid partners are finalizing a comprehensive readiness plan for the Syria’s north‑west, he nevertheless said some 2.1 million people remain in need in areas under the control of non‑State armed groups. Meanwhile, unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices continue to pose threats to returnees and humanitarian personnel across the country. Syria remains among the most dangerous countries in the world for humanitarian workers, he stressed, adding that the Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock is in Damascus today to engage with the Government on how best to scale up the collective humanitarian response. The Council’s engagement remains critical to ensuring de‑escalation and safe humanitarian access, he added.
Council members, taking the floor following the briefing, expressed concern over the plight of the Syrian people and support for the humanitarian workers risking their lives to reach those in need. However, opinions diverged on the number of aid convoys entering Syria in recent months, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons and reports that a chemical weapons attack against civilians may be imminent.
Sweden’s representative, also speaking on behalf of Kuwait as the penholder countries on the issue, said the last two weeks have seen attacks on education and health‑care facilities in and around Idlib. Citing with regret the lack of implementation of Council resolution 2401 (2018) — which demanded humanitarian pauses in hostilities — he urged all parties to abide by the de‑escalation agreement. Syrian authorities must be compelled to do more to ensure humanitarian access. He also recalled that a recent assessment by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) found that the conditions needed for Syrian refugees to return home safely are not yet in place, and called on the authorities to create them.
Ethiopia’s delegate declared: “We should all have only one agenda — to end the continued and enormous suffering of the Syrian people.” Noting that the Secretary‑General’s report no longer categorizes any area in Syria as “besieged”, she said that while the return of refugees and internally displaced persons in some parts of country can be seen as a positive trend, humanitarian need remains high. The delivery of aid must not be impeded. Expressing concern that any military escalation in Idlib and surrounding areas might further aggravate the humanitarian crisis, she called on Council members — particularly those with influence over local actors — to play a constructive role in avoiding military measures that could impact civilians.
France’s representative echoed that sentiment, joining others in expressing concern over warning signs of a large military escalation in northern Syria. Urging the international community to discourage Syria’s Government from escalating tensions, she emphasized the need for complete, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, expressing regret that no “real progress” has been made in recent months. “This is both insufficient and unacceptable,” she said, underscoring the importance of cross‑border aid deliveries and expressing concern that displaced persons are still unable to return.
The representative of the Russian Federation said the situation has stabilized in many areas of Syria, marked by the fact that displaced persons and refugees are returning home. Citing various positive developments, including infrastructure repair projects, he expressed concern over UNHCR’s passive role in Syria, undermining efforts on the ground. That approach, advocated by key Western countries, is being applied by the Secretariat, for some reason, and must be revised immediately. Emphasizing that double standards do nothing to enhance credibility, he said the United States has illegally created an airbase in southern Syria close to a refugee camp. “To make a show of being humane to an audience is not necessary,” he insisted. “What is necessary is concrete assistance.”
Syria’s delegate disputed the number of humanitarian aid convoys reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs as having entered his country, noting that thousands of convoys — not just four, as the Agency claimed — had reached people in need. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs only counted its own aid deliveries, and not those of other organizations. Meanwhile, certain Council members continue their policies of aggression and are preparing yet another staged chemical weapon attack — employing the so‑called “white helmet” group — as a way to occupy parts of Syria. Condemning the recent joint statement by the United States, United Kingdom and France, he said his Government has always viewed the use of chemical weapons as abhorrent and long ago destroyed its stockpiles in the Mediterranean. Allegations to the contrary are again being used to justify further aggression against Syria.
Also speaking today were representatives of Peru, United States, Bolivia, Poland, Netherlands, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, China, Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom.
The meeting began at 9:34 a.m. and ended at 11:16 a.m.
