Summary Update of the Activities Carried Out by the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria in 2016 S/1445/2016

S/1445/2016

27 December 2016

Original: ENGLISH

NOTE BY THE TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT

SUMMARY UPDATE OF THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OPCW FACT-FINDING MISSION IN SYRIA IN 2016

INTRODUCTION

1. In accordance with Executive Council decisions EC-M-48/DEC.1 (dated 4 February 2015) and EC-M-50/DEC.1 (dated 23 November 2015), as well as by United Nations Security Council resolution 2209 (2015), the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) has continued to study all available information relating to allegations of use of chemical weapons in Syria, including that provided by the Syrian Arab Republic as well as by others.

2. This summary provides an update on the Fact-Finding Mission’s activities in 2016 in accordance with the aforementioned Executive Council decisions, as well as United Nations Security Council resolution 2209 (2015)

METHODOLOGY RELATED TO THE COLLECTION AND EVALUATION OF INFORMATION

3. As recommended by the Executive Council, the FFM has collected and studied all available information related to allegations of the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic. This includes information provided in notes verbales by the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as other sources.

4. For each allegation of use, the FFM conducts an initial evaluation of the incident based on all available information. Each incident is then categorised using the following criteria:

(a) High: There is significant information consistent with the use of chemicals as weapons.

(b) Medium: There is some information lending credence to the possibility of the use of chemicals, but it is currently insufficient to make a confident assessment of consistency with the use of chemicals as weapons.

(c) Low: There is no or little available information, or the information available suggests a low likelihood of the use of chemicals as weapons.

5. Initial assessments may alter over time as more information becomes available.

6. The FFM applies a number of methods of evaluation, including, but not limited to:

(a) research into the incidents and existing reports;

(b) assessment and corroboration of background information;

(c) meetings or interviews with potential witnesses, either in person or using remote technology;

(d) review of documentation and records provided by interviewees;

(e) review of photographs, video, and audio material;

(f) assessment of the symptoms of casualties as reported by interviewees.

7. In order to gather facts regarding incidents of alleged use of chemicals as weapons, the FFM has deployed several times throughout the year in order to conduct interviews and collect additional evidence, including samples.

8. Further investigation may be carried out for allegations categorised as medium-high.

OVERVIEW OF INFORMATION REVIEWED

Notes Verbales from the Syrian Arab Republic

9. The Technical Secretariat has received 46 notes verbales from the Syrian Arab Republic (classified as Protected) between January 2016 and 20 November 2016, which contain information that is potentially relevant to the use of chemicals as weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic. These are listed in Annex 1.

10. Two of these notes verbales requested the FFM to investigate specific incidents of the possible use of chemicals as weapons. The remaining 44 notes verbales conveyed information relating to alleged perpetrators, including potential supply routes and storage locations. Eight of these 44 notes verbales also referenced allegations of the use of chemicals as weapons. The FFM has requested the Syrian Arab Republic to provide additional supporting information, such as intelligence reports or documentation, to substantiate this information and to facilitate the assessment process.

Other sources

11. From December 2015 to 20 November 2016, the FFM recorded 65 potential incidents of the use of chemical weapons reported in open sources. These are listed in Annex 2.

12. The FFM has actively pursued further information, including information provided by States Parties, the United Nations (including the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Damascus), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and potential witnesses, as well as in-depth research on the Internet.

FACT-FINDING ACTIVITIES

13. As noted above, the FFM has deployed on several occasions in order to gather relevant facts. All deployments and movement of the FFM took place with all necessary authorisations, including authorisation from the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS).

Information provided by the Syrian Arab Republic

14. With respect to the investigation requested by the Syrian Arab Republic in its note verbale number 69, the FFM conducted two visits to Damascus. During the initial deployment, the advance team discussed the future conduct of the mission. During this deployment, the FFM attended a number of meetings with the National Authority and was provided with:

(a) a briefing on the incident that occurred in the area of Al Awamid in Aleppo on 2 August 2016;

(b) a written report regarding the incident;

(c) a package of documents that included patient medical records and x-ray images of casualties admitted to the hospital as a result of the incident;

(d) a medical report on the cause of death of one of the fatalities;

(e) preliminary laboratory results concerning a number of samples that the National Authority had retrieved from the site of the incident; and (

f) access to the Syrian Scientific and Research Centre (SSRC) in Barzeh to secure the samples mentioned in (e) above.

15. During the second deployment, the FFM conducted interviews and recovered 14 samples from the SSRC in Barzeh for onward transport to the OPCW Laboratory at Rijswijk, The Hague.

16. Interviews were carried out with the following persons:

(a) 13 casualties; (

b) 8 medical staff involved in the treatment of the casualties;

(c) 1 member of staff involved in the receipt of the samples mentioned in paragraph 13 (e) above; and

(d) 3 members of the National Authority committee that retrieved the samples.

17. Samples consisted of:

(a) soil;

(b) clothing;

(c) a canister and wipe samples from a mask; and

(d) an oxygen cylinder.

18. A report has been issued regarding the alleged incident on 2 August 2016 in Al Awamid, Aleppo.

19. At the time of writing this report, a deployment of the FFM to the Syrian Arab Republic took place as per the request of the Syrian Arab Republic in note verbale number 109, dated 17 November 2016. The team is currently translating and analysing the interview recordings and associated documentation, and is awaiting analysis of the samples that were transferred to the OPCW Laboratory.

20. Further samples have been left, under seal, in the Syrian Arab Republic.

Information provided by other sources

21. In six alleged incidents, the FFM conducted 13 remote audio interviews and two in-person interviews.

22. The information provided through these interviews will require further substantiation and corroborating evidence in order for the FFM to make factual findings on the alleged incidents.

23. The lack of access to witnesses and supporting evidence continues to present challenges for further required investigation.

NEXT STEPS

24. The next phase of the FFM’s work will concentrate on building upon its analysis of available evidence through the continued collection and evaluation of relevant information and evidence through all means available.

25. The FFM will provide more detailed reports in due course, including information on all relevant methodology.

Annexes: English only

Annex 1: Notes Verbales Received from the Syrian Arab Republic in 2016 (up to 20 November) with Potential Relevance to the Use of Chemicals as Weapons

Annex 2: Open source Allegations of the Use of Chemicals as Weapons, from 1 December 2015 to 21 November 2016