Much-needed humanitarian access and monitoring resolution for Syria passes at UN

Statement

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December 19, 2016 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement related to the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution on the evacuations of Syrians from, humanitarian access to, and monitoring in Aleppo, Syria:

“It is imperative that this long-awaited decision from the UN Security Council in relation to the Syrian tragedy be turned into action so that desperate families get the medical and humanitarian relief they so desperately need. Syrians in Aleppo and throughout Syria have been waiting for much too long for this decision on critical evacuations, humanitarian access and monitoring. They must now be safely evacuated and humanitarian aid must be delivered under the monitoring of the UN.

“While we continue to call for an urgent political resolution to the conflict, the merciless suffering imposed on civilians trapped in Aleppo must stop. Canada continues to call on all the parties, from all sides of the conflict, to abide by the ceasefire; to enable evacuations, humanitarian relief and monitoring; and to pave the way toward a resumption of peace talks.

“Canada is providing financial support to humanitarian partners who deliver assistance to those in need across Syria.

“Canada’s concerted actions at the UN General Assembly in New York have, along with the leadership of key partners, contributed to today’s decision at the UN. Today’s decision follows the Canada-led call for action through a General Assembly resolution that was supported by 122 countries and demanded decisive action by the UN Security Council.” 

Quick facts

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

* On December 9, 2016, Canada and 72 other Member States successfully called for a second meeting of the General Assembly to discuss the situation in Syria. At that meeting, the General Assembly adopted a Canada-led resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, calling on all parties to the Syrian conflict to ‎respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and allow immediate and unhindered humanitarian access, and urging the Security Council to take further action.

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

* On February 8, 2016, the Government of Canada announced that it will be contributing $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.