 |
| Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (seated, centre) poses for a group photo with Security Council members. 22 April 2014 |
Report
of the Secretary-General
23
April 2014
I.
Introduction
1.
This second report is submitted pursuant to Paragraph 17 of Security
Council resolution
2139 (2014), in which the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to
report, every 30 days, on the implementation of the resolution by all parties
in the Syrian Arab Republic.
2.
The report covers the period 22 March to 21 April 2014. The information
contained in the report is based on the limited data available to the United
Nations (UN) actors on the ground as well as reports from open sources and
Syrian Government sources.
II. Major Developments
A.
Political/Military
3.
During the reporting period fighting between Government and opposition forces,
as
well
as between various opposition groups, continued in many parts of Syria.
Fighting was particularly intense in Aleppo, Latakia, Dar’a, Homs and Rural
Damascus governorates. Clashes also continued in several other parts of the
country, including in Hama, Idleb, Ar-Raqqa and Deir -ez-Zor governorates. The
conduct of hostilities by all parties to the conflict, including direct and
indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian areas, continued to cause
deaths and injuries.
4.
In Aleppo, fighting escalated with significant shelling and the continued use
of other heavy weaponry by Government forces. The use of missiles and rocket
launchers by opposition groups resulted in a high number of casualties and
injuries. An average of 20 shells and missiles were reported to have fallen
daily on neighbourhoods in both eastern and western Aleppo between the end of
March and early April. According to Human Rights Watch, which conducted a
review of satellite imagery on 22 February, 1 March and 2 April 2014, there is
strong evidence to suggest the use by government forces of indiscriminate
aerial bombardment and ground attacks of opposition-held neighbourhoods in
Aleppo. This reportedly includes over 85 major places impacted since 22
February with damage signatures strongly consistent with the use of improvised
barrel and conventional bombs, resulting in the destruction of a vast number of
residential buildings. This damage was particularly evident in opposition held
neighbourhoods of Masaken Hanano, al Sakhour, Terbet Lala, Helwaniye, Jabal
Badro, Al Heidariyya and Owaija.
5.
Since 5 April, armed groups have also launched an offensive in the Al-Layramoun
and Al-Zahraa
neighbourhoods, in north-west Aleppo city, with armed clashes resulting in
scores of civilians injured and displaced. In addition, armed clashes between
Government and opposition groups in and around Ramousa town on the southern
outskirts of Aleppo city have rendered access to the western part of Aleppo
irregular since 12 April. Aleppo city is effectively encircled by armed
opposition groups. Fighting, especially near the only supply route from Homs,
Damascus and the coast into the city, has raised concerns about fuel shortages
and rising food prices and other commodities in both western and eastern
Aleppo.
6.
In Latakia, armed opposition groups, including Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham
and Ansar
al-Sham, launched a major offensive on Kassab town and surrounding areas on 21
March, taking control of the adjacent border crossing with Turkey from the
Syrian Government. The fighting reportedly led to the forced displacement of
over 7,500 people, many of whom have sought shelter in Latakia city. There have
been reports of attacks on civilians, as well as looting of civilian homes and
religious sites, including churches, although these remain unconfirmed.
7.
In Dar’a Governorate, conflict persisted in locations with a heavy
concentration of civilians including displaced people. Reports of a high number
of aerial bombardments were reported in Dar’a city, Jasim and Ankhal (north
Dar’a); Tassil, Tafs and Mzeireb (southwest); and Tiba and Sayda (east of
al-Naseeb border crossing with Jordan). This included, for example, the
damaging of grain silos storing 25 tons of wheat in Dar’a on 26 March.
8.
Government-controlled cities and towns, including Damascus, were subject
to indiscriminate
mortar attacks and shelling by armed opposition groups. Between 26 March and 1
April heavily populated areas of Damascus, such as Al Midan, Al Mogambo, Al
Sulaymaniya, Al Khaldiya and Nile Street, were attacked with mortars, resulting
in secondary and tertiary displacement. In the first week of April alone, over
100 mortars were fired on neighbourhoods of Damascus. Opposition groups shelled
residential areas in the city including the districts of Al-Malk, Bab Touma,
al-Sadat, al-Kabbas and al-Zablatani.
9.
Car bombings and suicide attacks, including against civilians, resulted in
further civilian deaths and injuries. In particular, multiple instances of
vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) were reported in the
governorates of Idleb, Dar’a, Al-Hasakeh, Latakia and Homs. For example,
according to open sources, on 9 April at least 25 people, including women and
children, were killed and another 100 were wounded when two car bombs exploded
in the Karam al-Luz district, a predominantly Alawite neighbourhood of Homs
city. Two volunteers from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent were among the injured
as they arrived in an ambulance to treat people hurt by the initial blast.
10.
Fighting near the Khan Danoun Palestinian Refugee camp, in south
Damascus, resulted
in a number of deaths and injuries of Palestine refugees. Several buildings and
a mosque were also damaged. Four Palestinians were taken hostage by armed
opposition groups and are still missing. After several hours of fighting the
armed groups withdrew from the camp.
11.
Foreign fighters continue to support all sides to the Syrian conflict,
including extremist groups, armed opposition groups, and the government. The UN
is unable to provide a verified assessment of their presence and activity on a
nationwide scale. Interviewed by the Lebanese daily “As Safir” on 7 and 8
April, Hizbullah’s Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah referenced
Hizbullah’s “intervention” in Syria and stated that “we are present where we
have to be present”. With regards to extremist foreign fighters, there have
been unconfirmed reports that the flow has slowed down during the past few
months.
12.
Thousands of people were forcibly displaced during the reporting period due
to ongoing
fighting, as well as the deterioration in living conditions, particularly in
the governorates of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Idleb, Dar’a and Rural Damascus. The
largest numbers of people seem to have been displaced from opposition-held
areas, in many cases, into areas under Government control which people deem to
be safer. For example, around 40,000 people are estimated to have fled to Hama
city due to fighting around Morek in Hama Governorate, while around 117,500
people sought shelter in Idleb city and surrounding areas. In Rural Damascus,
escalation of fighting in Qudsiya led to the temporary displacement of an
estimated 170,000 people residing in surrounding areas, mostly towards Damascus
city.
B.
Human Rights
13.
The treatment of civilians under the control of parties to the conflict also
continued to raise
serious concerns during the reporting period. This includes reports of
killings; enforced disappearances; torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment; arbitrary arrest and detention; kidnappings, and
increasing sexual violence, by many parties to the conflict. In addition,
reports have been received of incidents of child recruitment and child labour.
On 28 March, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution extending the
mandate of the independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria for one
year. The High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the Security Council, on
8 April, to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.
14.
On 7 April, an elderly priest, Father Frans van der Lugt, was killed in the Old
City of Homs
by unidentified armed gunmen. On 14 April, the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights released a paper with consistent reports of torture and other
cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment by Government forces. The paper also
documented torture and ill-treatment committed by ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar
al-Sham, Liwa Al-Tawhed and Asifat al-Shamal. In addition, the paper documented
the poor conditions in which those detained by Government forces and some armed
opposition groups are being held. This could constitute or lead to torture or
cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.
15.
On 29 March, Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) reportedly executed
and mutilated
the bodies of members of the Free Syrian Army held hostage in Margila,
Deir-ez-Zor. OHCHR received the names of 24 victims of the incident. During the
reporting period, reports verified by OHCHR also indicate that activists
documenting human rights violations in Ar-Raqqa were forced to flee the city
out of fear of being kidnapped or detained due to their work.
16.
Concerns also remain about the situation of civilians in other areas under
opposition control,
in particular given the previous track-record of some of the opposition groups
involved. After the opposition gained control of Kassab, an initial report
indicated that 40 people, mostly elderly Armenians, were trapped in Kassab town
and surrounding villages. Eight Armenians are reported missing and there is no
information about the whereabouts of Alawites who used to live in Kassab. Both
Jahbat al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham took part in a previous offensive on Alawite
villages in rural Latakia in August 2013, which resulted in the killing of at
least 190 people and the kidnapping of another 200, most of them women and
children. During the reporting period, Ahrar al-Sham stated that they continue
to hold over 90 hostages from that incident. In a statement issued on 29 March,
Jabhat al-Nusra confirmed that it had killed a number of people, although it is
not clear whether this included civilians.
17.
The situation of detainees in the Government-run Aleppo Central Prison, which
has been
surrounded by several armed groups since mid-2013, continues to be dire despite
intermittent delivery of assistance by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC).
There have been reports of several cases of death as a result of starvation or
denial of medical treatment, including the death of one prisoner recorded by
OHCHR during the reporting period. Around 2,500 individuals, including women
and children, are estimated to be held at the prison, including hundreds of
prisoners who have served their sentence or have been pardoned but have not yet
been released. Former detainees in many other prisons gave accounts of daily
deaths in detention due to lack of medical treatment.
C.
Humanitarian access
18.
Approximately 9.3 million people, more than 6.5 million of them internally displaced,
continue
to be in need of urgent humanitarian assistance within Syria. It is estimated
that 3.5 million people reside in areas that are difficult or impossible for
humanitarian actors to reach due to a number of factors, some of which are set
out below. This includes at least 242,000 people who live in areas that are
besieged by either government or opposition forces.
19.
The operational environment in Syria remains extremely challenging due to
continued violence
and insecurity, including direct and indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas,
as well shifting conflict lines and the proliferation and fragmentation of
armed opposition groups. These factors have continued to hamper humanitarian
access.
20.
During the reporting period, UN humanitarian agencies and partners
delivered increasing
amounts of assistance to Syrian men, women and children. This included, for
example, food assistance dispatched by WFP for 4.1 million people, an 11 per
cent increase compared with the 3.7 million people reached in February. UNHCR
and partners provided relief items to 155,540 people between 25 March and 1
April reaching hard to reach locations such as Karak and Moarabeh in Dar’a for
the first time. UNICEF and partners provided water treatments to produce safe
water for more than 1.7 million people, including 460,000 litres of sodium
chloride that was distributed in 11 governorates. 40 per cent went to
hard-to-reach areas, through the provision of water tanks and generators. In
addition, 54,770 children received school supplies and space for their
education in nine hard-to-reach areas. Since March, WHO and partners have also
provided medicines and medical equipment, including surgical supplies to
partners, for up to 1.5 million people, including for 445,710 people in
hard-to-reach and contested areas. This included, for example, 113,000 people
in Abu Kamal in Deir-ez-Zor, which was reached for the first time, and 408,470
people in opposition-controlled areas in Deir-ez-Zor, Idleb and Ar-Raqqa
governorates.
21.
Despite these modest gains, humanitarian agencies are faced with
increasing challenges
to deliver regular and timely, needs-based humanitarian assistance to affected
people, particularly to those in hard to reach locations and areas under siege.
During the reporting period the assistance provided, whether through regular
agency programming or through inter-agency convoys, only reached 34 out of the
262 locations identified as being heard to reach or besieged; a mere 13 per cent
of locations. This included food assistance for 339,642 people (9.7 percent of
the 3.5 million people) and essential relief items for 60,482 people (1.7
percent of the 3.5 million people). This included areas that the UN has not
been able to reach in a number of months, including Eastern Aleppo City, Douma
in Rural Damascus, Karak and Moarabeh in Dara’a Governorate, rural areas in Ar
Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor city and camps for internally displaced persons in northern
Idleb, which had not been reached since the start of the crisis. WFP reported
an increase in the number of people supported with food in hard-to-reach areas
with an estimated 297,750 people reached, up from 115,500 during the previous
period. Of the 297,750 people reached, 185,250 people were reached via WFP
regular aid programmes and 112,500 people were reached via inter agency convoy.
Assistance to Al-Hasekeh also increased during the reporting period, largely as
a result of the movement of aid across the Nusaybin border with Turkey.
22.
The vast majority of hard to reach locations, however, remain extremely
difficult for the UN and its partners to reach. This lack of access is
particularly acute in five governorates that have been consistently difficult
to reach. Ar-Raqqa, Deir-ez-Zor, Dar’a, Rural Damascus and Aleppo governorates.
The entire governorates of Ar- Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor have received extremely
limited humanitarian assistance over the past six months due to insecurity and
a proliferation of armed groups, including in particular ISIS, as access is
blocked to the north-eastern part of the country. In Ar- Raqqa and Deir-ez-zor
governorates, three out of 22 hard to reach locations were reached during the
reporting period. In Dar’a only two out of 70 hard to reach locations were
reached with assistance for 10,000 people. The main obstacles included on going
active conflict and a lack of cooperation from the local Governor. This
prevented UN cross-line aid deliveries. In Rural Damascus, where around 178,000
people continue to be besieged by Government forces, only three out of the 35
hard to reach locations were accessed. Active conflict and government
restrictions, in particular to besieged areas continued to prevent access to
people in need.
23.
Despite the delivery of assistance by UNHCR to eastern Aleppo on 8 April,
the mission
was complicated and dangerous. A four-hour ceasefire was negotiated by UNHCR
and SARC to deliver relief items to 2,500 people. Due to the presence of
landmines in the no-man’s land between front lines, relief items were moved on
54 small pull-carts with the help of 75 workers and UNHCR/SARC staff.
Travelling a distance of 1.5 kilometers, the workers made five consecutive
round trips to transport the relief items. All of eastern and northern Aleppo,
under the control of multiple opposition groups, remains hard to reach for the
United Nations.
Besieged
areas
24.
The situation of approximately 242,0001 people in besieged areas remains of
grave concern. It is estimated that approximately 197,000 people live in areas
that are besieged by Government forces in the Old City of Homs, Madamiyet
Elsham, Eastern Ghouta, Darayya and Yarmouk, while approximately 45,000 people
live in areas besieged by opposition forces in Nubul and Zahra.
25.
During the reporting period, 23,700 people or almost 10 % of people living
under
siege
in two of these besieged areas were reached with limited assistance: Douma, in
eastern Ghouta and Yarmouk in Damascus.
26.
Eastern Ghouta. On 29 March, an inter-agency convoy led by the RC/HC, delivered
food
for 5,000 people and relief items for 15,000 people. An additional convoy to
Douma, although approved, was put on hold by the United Nations as the
Government refused to allow medicines to be included in the convoy. A new
request for a convoy to Douma, to take place on 22-25 April, was submitted on
16 April, emphasising the need to deliver medicines and other medical supplies.
A response is still pending. The majority of towns in eastern Ghouta have been
besieged since 2012.
27.
Madamiyet Elsham. Previous reports of thousands of people returning to
Madamiyet
Elsham
have now been cross-checked by the UN and it is now estimated that
approximately 15,000 people have returned to the town following the
truce/ceasefire agreement and subsequent reduction in active conflict. This
increased the number of people in besieged Madamiyet Elsham from 5,000 to
20,000 people. There continue to be reports of limited movements of people in
and out of the area, who have been permitted to bring in very small amounts of
food. Medicines and reconstruction/shelter materials continue to be prohibited.
In addition, the United Nations and SARC are still unable to enter the area to
deliver humanitarian assistance.
28.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) approved an inter-agency convoy to Madamiyet Elsham which was
scheduled for departure on 1 April. However the convoy did not depart as the
Government communicated to the Humanitarian Coordinator that conditions for the
receipt of the assistance on the ground were not met, so the convoy could not
proceed. In ongoing efforts to facilitate the necessary conditions for
humanitarian access, on 6 April, the UN met with representatives from the
National Reconciliation Committee and the opposition reaching an agreement on
the mechanism for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the town. On the basis of
this agreement, a further request was submitted by the Humanitarian Coordinator
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on 9 April for an accompanied
inter-agency convoy between 14-17 April with food and non-food items for up to
5,000 people and medicines for up to 37,000 people. The convoy request remains
pending with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Madamiyet Elsham has been
besieged since late 2012.
29.
Yarmouk. Continued fighting in and around Yarmouk disrupted efforts to access
the area. During the reporting period food parcels were distributed to
some 2,173 families. There have been reports that around 15,000 people have returned
to Madamyet Elsham , bringing the total number of besieged in Madamyiet to
20,000. The number of people besieged in Yarmouk is now estimated at 18,000.
Around 150,000 are besieged in Eastern Ghouta (as opposed to 160,000 after a
recent UN assessment) , while 8,000 continue to be besieged in Darayya, 45,000
in Nubul and Zahra by opposition armed groups and 1,000 in the Old City of
Homs. This brings the number of people besieged to 242,000 ( 197,000 by
Government forces) and 45,000 by opposition forces.
(approximately
8,692 people), sufficient to meet only 15 percent of the minimum food needs of
the resident population. UNWRA’s distribution activities were either authorized
or enabled on only seven days during the reporting period, with the last food
distribution taking place on 8 April . Approximately 18,000 civilians, the
majority of whom are Palestine refugees, remain trapped in the area, facing
acute risks of hunger and malnutrition, exposure to communicable diseases, poor
sanitation and lack of medical care. Given that an UNRWA food parcel lasts for
a maximum of ten days, UNRWA states that there will be no food in Yarmouk from
20 April. Yarmouk has been besieged since June 2013.
30.
Darayya. Approximately 8,000 people remain besieged in Darayya, Rural Damascus
with no access to assistance or evacuations occurring during the reporting
period. Darayya has been besieged since November 2012.
31.
Old City of Homs. It is estimated that 1,000 people remain in the Old City of
Homs.
Heavy
clashes between Government, pro-government and opposition forces inside the Old
City erupted on 15 April. This fighting followed a breakdown of intensive
negotiations between the Syrian Government, the local reconciliation committee
and other representatives inside the Old City aimed at agreeing on a truce.
Assistance was last provided to the Old City on 7-12 February 2014 through a
joint UN/SARC mission. The Old City of Homs has been besieged since June 2012.
32.
During the 7-12 February mission, 1,400 people were evacuated, including 470
men and boys between 15 and 55 years, who were taken to the Government's
Al-Andalus facility for Government screening. Of these men and boys, 57 remain
at the facility awaiting clearance. A further 25 who were cleared remain in the
facility for various reasons, including lack of civil documents, loss of homes,
and lack of relatives nearby. Among those who were cleared 19 have been
reported arrested or missing after leaving the facility. Further follow up by
UNHCR revealed that of these 19, six were released, two are missing, and one
person is still in detention. UNHCR was unable to verify the current status of
the remaining 10 individuals. On 7 April, during a meeting between the
Humanitarian Coordinator and the Governor of Homs, the Governor reported that a
further 660 males between the ages of 15-55 have left the Old City since the
end of the UN facilitated evacuations in February, and that a total of 500 men
and boys now remain at the facility. The Humanitarian Coordinator has expressed
to the Governor the UN's serious concerns regarding the status of the men and
boys in Al-Andalus. It was agreed with the Governor that the UN will provide
humanitarian supplies for those at Al-Andalus through a local partner.
33.
Nubul and Zahra. On 4 April the Syrian Government approved convoys to the besieged towns of Nubul and
Zahra, as well as four near-by communities (Kafr Hamra, Hreitan, Heyan and
Meyer). The UN has been engaged in intense negotiations with opposition groups
to facilitate access to the towns and re-establish access to rural Aleppo, over
the last two weeks. The opposition groups in question initially put forth
stringent conditions, including that: i) Syrian forces immediately cease
shelling in Aleppo; ii) the situation in Aleppo central prison be solved; iii)
humanitarian assistance be delivered to Homs and Rural Damascus; iv) all women
and children be released from detention; and v) Government forces withdraw from
Nubul and Zahra. While these conditions have been relaxed, negotiations
continue. Nubul and Zahra have been besieged since April 2013.
Cross-border assistance
34.
Distribution of the aid transported (from 20 to 25 March) from Turkey to Syria
through the Nusaybin/Quamishli border crossing is on-going in opposition,
government and Kurdish controlled areas through partners in Qamishli city, Tal
Tamir, Al Shaddadeh, al Hawl, Jwadiyeh, Derbassiyeh, Tal Brak, Tal Hamis and
Amuda in Rural Al-Hasakeh Governorate, Al Hasakeh city, Al-Malkieh district and
Ras Al-Ain district in the northern part of Al Hasakeh. On 8 April WFP received
written authorization from the Government of Syria for an additional convoy via
Nusaybin crossing from Turkey. These rations were initially intended for
importation to Syria via Al Yaroubiyah crossing from Iraq, for which consent
was withdrawn by the Government of Syria in January. WFP has 34 trucks of food
rations available to cross via Nusaybin. The UN is expecting a positive
response from the Turkish authorities following a request on 10 April.
35.
Requests made by the United Nations to the Syrian authorities to urgently
authorize the use of additional border crossings still remain pending. The
Syrian Government has consistently stated that they will only allow the use of
border crossing points that are controlled by them. The other crossings points
for which requests have been made are Bab-al Salam and Bab-al Hawa on the
border with Turkey, both of which are controlled by the Islamic Front; Al
Yaroubiyah crossing point with Iraq controlled by the PYD and Tal Shihab
crossing point with Jordan controlled by the Free Syrian Army. A request to
directly restock warehouses on route from Al Naseeb crossing point, controlled
by the Syrian Government at the border with Jordan in Dar’a or Sweida was
previously authorized.
Free
Passage of Medical Supplies, personnel and Equipment
36.
The delivery of medical supplies continued to be negotiated on a case by case
basis. The
inclusion of surgical supplies or any item that may be used for surgical
interventions (including bandages, gloves, injectable medicines, antiseptics,
anaesthetic medicines) continue to be restricted by the Government, for
delivery in opposition held areas. Only medicines for non-communicable
diseases, pain-killers and antibiotic are allowed into opposition held areas.
Prior to distribution, supplies are checked multiple times by security forces,
and in some cases the amount of medicines in convoys is decreased.
37.
During the reporting period, medical supplies that would have assisted
216,015 people
in hard to reach and besieged areas were either removed from convoys, or the
convoys were not allowed to proceed. This includes medical supplies for 195,000
people in the besieged areas of Madamiyet Elsham and Douma and for 21,350
people in locations in Homs and Aleppo. However, convoys to hard to reach areas
in Idleb, delivered all medicines and medical supplies, including some surgical
equipment, sufficient to meet the basic needs of at least 65,000 people in
Saraqab and Sarmada. In other parts of the country, many more people were
denied medicines, particularly if the requests included surgical equipment,
blood transfusion equipment or perfusions. In Yarmouk, the Syrian authorities
continued to refuse to authorize UNRWA to distribute medical supplies, with the
exception of the 15,000 polio vaccines distributed since December and a small
quantity of mineral supplements, vitamin supplements and rehydration salts.
38.
Negotiations are ongoing to allow medicines and medical supplies into
opposition
areas
without any exceptions. On 10 April, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
communicated that all syringes or devices required for vaccination are now
authorized to all areas. Mechanisms are also being explored with the Government
to enable patients in besieged areas to have access to surgical treatment and
hospital care.
39.
Two new confirmed polio cases were reported in Syria in April in Aleppo and
in Hama
governorates. The March round of the polio vaccination campaign has reached
almost 3 million children. Post-campaign monitoring indicates that vaccination
coverage was greater than 85 per cent in all but two governorates, Damascus
(79%) and Rural Damascus (84%).
40.
Facilitation letters from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs were
received for all areas across the country for the fifth polio vaccination
campaign. However, insecurity continued to hinder the immunization of children
in numerous locations including in rural areas of Hama, Dar’a, Deir-E- Zor,
Aleppo, Homs, Hassakeh, Ar Raqqa, Rural Damascus, Quneitra, Latakia and
besieged areas.
41.
There has been no progress on the demilitarization of hospitals and no examples
of such
demilitarization occurring during the reporting period.
Administrative
procedures
42.
On March 31, the Government communicated, in writing, that a follow up
Note Verbale
would be sent to the HC with specific instructions for a new procedure for the
clearance of unaccompanied convoys. This procedure would allow trucks to be
checked and “sealed” at warehouses to facilitate passage at checkpoints. The
written communication remains pending but instructions were sent to military
checkpoints that they comply with the new procedure.
43.
A total of 18 international NGOs are authorised to work in Syria. On 8 April,
MOFA sent
a directive to an international NGO in Syria, through SARC, to either terminate
cross border operations across the Turkish border or end its cooperation with
Damascus within two weeks of the date of the directive. The international NGO
has requested an extension to stay until the end of the month of April while
also seeking permission for a high level delegation to visit the country and
discuss the issue with the Government. During the reporting period 5 new
national NGOs were authorized to work with the UN.
44.
International non-governmental organizations (INGOs) continue to be prevented
from partnering with national NGOs and face significant restrictions for staff
to travel to field locations. Many INGOS are also prevented from establishing
sub-offices in field locations, or from expanding operations from sub-offices.
A proposed Memorandum of Understanding with SARC that would reduce many of the
restrictive clauses was submitted to the Government on 26 February by the
Government of Switzerland. The agreement of the Government to this memorandum
remains pending.
45.
The revised visa policy established by the Government of Syria on 4 March
continued to be implemented. From 22 March to 21 April, the UN submitted 31 new
visa requests or renewals. Of these, 16 have been approved, within the agreed
time-frame of 15 working days. 15 remain pending, including 2 for DSS, as six
others pending from last year were cancelled by DSS. In addition, 13 new visa
or renewal requests which had been pending prior to the reporting period were
approved. Four new INGO visas were also approved, leaving a total of 16
requests pending.
Safety
and security of staff and Premises
46.
On 19 April, SARC in Hama reported an explosion at a check point on Salamiyeh road
while 4 privately-contracted trucks carrying WFP supplies from Safita warehouse
in Tartous for delivery to SARC Hama were waiting to pass; the trucks were
severely damaged and two drivers were killed. On 10 April, two UNRWA staff, a
school attendant and a teacher, sustained minor injuries due to the impact of a
mortar on a Government school in Jaramana (Rural Damascus) also used by UNRWA.
Two SARC volunteers were injured in a car bomb attack in Homs city on 9 April.
47.
25 UN national staff members continue to be detained (21 from UNRWA, 2 from IOM
and 2 from UNDP). Three UNRWA national staff members are missing.
Observations
48.
While the crisis in Syria can only be solved through a political solution, it
is with regret that I inform the Council that we have drifted even farther away
from this goal. After two rounds of intra-Syrian negotiations in January and
February, the Geneva II talks on implementation of the Geneva Communique have
stalled. While current conditions may not be conducive for a quick resumption
of peace talks, international and regional actors, and the Syrian parties
themselves, must put aside their differences and refocus on promoting a
political solution to the crisis.
49. With the ever-increasing violence and
extremism, I repeat my strong calls on all in the region and beyond to stop the
flow of arms and fighters to all parties in Syria. All in the international
community must do all they can to prevent extremist groups from acquiring
financial resources, weapons, food and other supplies. All regional actors must
also exercise restraint and avoid provocation which would lead to a further escalation
of the conflict.
50.
I am greatly concerned that the opening of a new front in northern Latakia
increases the risk of sectarian violence, particularly with the involvement of
Jabhat al-Nusra – an Al-Qaeda affiliate listed by the Security Council
Sanctions Committee - in the takeover of Kassab village along the Turkey-Syria
border. I note that some of the groups involved in the Kassab offensive have
espoused dangerous sectarian rhetoric and were also part of an operation in
Latakia Governorate in August 2013, which led to hundreds of deaths and
civilian kidnappings.
51.
I remain deeply concerned by the continued indiscriminate attacks on populated
areas and civilians, including with barrel bombs that have destroyed entire
neighbourhoods. I want to remind all parties that under international
humanitarian law it is prohibited to fire at or bombard civilians and to make
civilian infrastructure the objects of attack. Such attacks, even if in
reprisal, are prohibited by international humanitarian law and continue to
challenge the very essence of our shared humanity.
52.
Two months since the adoption of Security Council resolution 2139 (2014), none
of the parties to the conflict have adhered to the demands of the Council.
Civilians are not being protected. The security situation is deteriorating and
humanitarian access to those most in need is not improving. It remains an
extremely challenging environment in which to work. Thousands of people are not
getting the medical care, including life-saving medicines, that they need.
Medical supplies, including life-saving medicines and vaccines, and equipment
for the wounded and the sick are commodities privileged throughout the Geneva
Conventions. Denying these is arbitrary and unjustified, and a clear violation
of international humanitarian law. Yet, medicines are routinely denied to those
who need them, including tens of thousands of women, children, and elderly. The
Security Council must take action to deal with these flagrant violations of the
basic principles of international law.
53. I must again urge the parties, and in
particular the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, to honour their
obligations under international humanitarian law and act now. Resolution 2139
leaves no room for interpretation or further negotiation of access. The parties
must comply and allow and facilitate the delivery of essential relief items to
civilians in need, in particular in those most difficult to reach areas listed
in Resolution 2139. Almost 3.5 million civilians remain largely without access to
essential goods and services. Not to comply constitutes arbitrary denial of
access. The Council also called upon all parties to lift the sieges of
populated areas. This call has not been heard and I consider it shameful that
nearly a quarter of a million people are being deliberately forced to live
under such conditions.
54.
Since my previous report on the implementation of resolution 2139, I call yet
again upon all parties to the conflict to work with the United Nations to
establish durable and lasting arrangements at key border and combat line
crossings to facilitate access. Also, I call again on the Syrian government to
streamline convoy procedures and grant blanket approvals to reach all those
that are desperately in need and facilitate the passage of medicines including
medical supplies. The time for extended access negotiations and waiting for
permits and clearances should be over. People are dying needlessly every day.
The UN is ready to take any steps possible to facilitate the impartial delivery
of urgently needed humanitarian relief to those most deprived in line with
international humanitarian law and the humanitarian imperative to care for the
wounded and sick.
(PDF copy with Annexes here)
(PDF copy with Annexes here)
Follow me on Twitter @NabilAbiSaab
No comments:
Post a Comment