Canada continues to lead efforts to mobilize UN General Assembly on Syria

Statement

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December 1, 2016 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding Canada’s continuing efforts to mobilize the international community on the horrific humanitarian situation that continues to unfold in Syria:

“The victims of the ongoing conflict in Syria deserve action now. They deserve an end to the violence, to the indiscriminate killing and to the blocking of life-saving humanitarian aid. Our message to the actors on the ground, to the Assad regime and to those who back it is clear: we cannot let this horrific crisis continue.

“Canada marshalled 72 other countries to express our shared and deep concern that the UN Security Council is unable to address the overwhelming humanitarian needs of Syrians and to halt the attacks against civilians in Aleppo and other parts of Syria. We are therefore asking the President of the UN General Assembly to urgently convene a formal plenary meeting and signal the need to take action on Syria. We believe the General Assembly can play an important role in pressuring the actors on the ground to end the attacks in Syria.

“Canada will continue to rally the international community to support an end to the attacks, a cessation of hostilities, an end to all besiegements, full respect for international humanitarian law and human rights law, and the need for full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access.”

Quick facts

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* There has been no aid to eastern Aleppo in 150 days. The last remaining stockpile of food rations was completely exhausted by November 13, 2016, there are no functioning hospitals and 25,000 people have been displaced from their homes since Saturday.

* Over 6 million children in Syria need humanitarian assistance. Two million of them are living in hard-to-reach areas inaccessible by the UN, and over 700,000 people remain in other besieged areas across the country

* On October 20, 2016, Canada, along with 71 other UN member states, successfully pushed for convening an informal session of the UN General Assembly to discuss Syria and to pressure all parties involved to cease the strikes on the civilian population and for unhindered humanitarian access.

* On February 8, 2016, the Government of Canada announced that it will spend $1.6 billion over the next three years in a comprehensive and integrated regional response to the crises in Syria and Iraq, with a focus on security, stabilization, humanitarian and development assistance, and enhanced diplomatic engagement.