Canada renews calls for improved humanitarian access in Syria

Statement

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June 3, 2016 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today issued the following statement concerning the expiration of the International Syria Support Group’s (ISSG’s) June 1, 2016, deadline for improved access to humanitarian aid in Syria:

“The obstruction of vital humanitarian assistance in Syria and the targeting of medical facilities and personnel violate international humanitarian law.

“On May 17, 2016, Canada, along with 25 other countries and organizations, made a commitment as part of the ISSG to compel parties to the conflict to guarantee immediate, full, sustained and unrestricted access for humanitarian assistance to all hard-to-reach and besieged communities across Syria.

“The ISSG called on the World Food Programme to undertake humanitarian air bridges and airdrops for all areas in need in Syria, where operationally feasible, if access were not provided to the United Nations by June 1, 2016. These methods of aid delivery remain a last resort, particularly when overland access remains possible as recent aid convoys that have reached long-besieged Darayya and Moadamiya demonstrate. However, much more is immediately needed in these and other communities beyond the hygiene and few medical items that were delivered. Food aid must be delivered urgently before besieged populations begin to starve to death.

“It is vital that everyone prioritize efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people. Canada will continue to play its part.”