Syrian Coalition: Mass Forced Displacement of Wadi Barada Residents Violates Truce, Part of Systematic Policy

Press Statement

Media Department

Syrian Coalition

January 30, 2017

The Syrian Coalition stresses that the forced displacement of civilians from their homes and towns, under whatever pretext, is a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement and a continuation of the regime’s plans to bring about demographic change in Syria. Forced displacement of civilians also constitutes a crime against humanity.

The Syrian Coalition condemns the forced displacement of residents of the Wadi Barada valley out of their homes. Residents have had to choose between leaving, live under siege and hunger, or to surrender and accept a return to live under repression. The Coalition emphasizes that the foreign militias that have been brought in to kill the Syrian people must be forced to leave all Syrian territory.

The Syrian Coalition renews calls on the UN Security Council to pass a resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter that would put an immediate end to the killings, siege and forced displacement; stipulate that all parties to the conflict respect the ceasefire agreement; ensure the withdrawal of all foreign, sectarian militias from Syria; and contributes to the efforts aimed at reaching a political solution that ensures the rights of the Syrian people and their aspirations for freedom, justice and dignity are met.