UK draft press statement on Aleppo

The members of the Security Council condemned the increase in violence around Aleppo prompted by a military offensive by the Syrian authorities launched in late April. The members further expressed grave alarm at the intolerable suffering, death and destruction, resulting in the deaths of up to 280 civilians in just 12 days. The members of the Security Council reiterated the Secretary General’s call for the Syrian parties to recommit immediately to the cessation of hostilities and to protect civilians from t the dangers of military operations,

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned all attacks directed against civilians, civilian infrastructure, and medical facilities as violations of international humanitarian law. The members of the Security Council expressed their outrage that on 27 April the Al Quds hospital in Aleppo was destroyed by airstrikes, killing at least 50 people two doctors, one of whom was a pediatrician in Aleppo, injuring dozens, and depriving many more of lifesaving medical care. The members of the Security Council also strongly condemned the attack, on 3 May on Al-Dabit medical facility and the resulting casualties.

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned all acts of violence, attacks and threats directed against the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospital and other medical facilities in Syria.

The members of the Security Council recalled the adoption on 3 May 2016 of resolution 2286 on healthcare in conflict, and that, under international law, attacks intentionally directed against hospitals and places where the sick and wounded are collected, functioning as such , as well as attacks intentionally directed against buildings, material, medical units and transport and personnel using the distinctive emblems of the Geneva Conventions in conformity with international law are war crimes. [PP17, healthcare resolution]

The members of the Security Council underlined their demand in resolution 2268 that all parties to whom the cessation of hostilities applies fulfil their commitments as outlined in the terms of the cessation, and urged all Member States, especially ISSG members, to use their influence with the parties to the cessation of hostilities to ensure fulfilment of those commitments and to support efforts to create conditions for a durable and lasting ceasefire. (based on OP 1 of R. 2268)

The members of the Security Council look forward to the next report of the Special Envoy on the implementation of resolutions 2254 and 2268, including by drawing on information provided by the ISSG ceasefire task force.

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