Joint statement by HRVP Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Christos Stylianides

Joint statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Christos Stylianides on the urgency for humanitarian aid to reach Aleppo

At the end of the humanitarian pause declared by Russia in Aleppo, no agreement has been reached on the medical evacuation of wounded civilians and the delivery of aid, in spite of continuous efforts by the EU, UN and all humanitarian actors on the ground.

There are thousands of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. On 21 October, the European Council invited us to continue pursuing the emergency humanitarian initiative. We therefore reiterate the urgency to allow humanitarian deliveries in parallel with the evacuation of the injured civilians, in accordance with international humanitarian law. This must be done while ensuring the safety and security of humanitarian and health care personnel during aid delivery and medical evacuation. 

We call on the Syrian authorities and their allies to renew the humanitarian pause in Aleppo and to issue the facilitation letters to allow the inter-agency convoy as planned in the UN October aid delivery plan. 

All parties must demonstrate unequivocally a genuine commitment to allow humanitarian aid operations to address the urgent needs of Syrian civilians and to provide safe and unhindered access to humanitarian organisations across the country. All Syrians in dire need, whoever they are, have the basic right to receive lifesaving assistance.  

All parties to the conflict should stop the shelling of civilian areas and medical structures in Aleppo city. Deliberate attacks against civilians, including humanitarian and health care personnel, and against civilian and medical infrastructure, are clear violations of international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes.

There is no military solution to the Syrian civil war.