UNSC renews attempt to get aid into Syria
AFP, Dec 22 2015
UN – The UNSC Tuesday renewed a resolution facilitating the cross-border delivery of aid to millions of Syrians, while complaining previous such measures were not seen through on the ground. The text was adopted unanimously by all 15 member states, including Russia. The resolution extends authorization for UN humanitarian convoys to cross into Syria without the consent of the Damascus regime (sic – RB), in line with a previous text adopted in Jul 2014 and due to expire in January. Since last year trucks have passed through rebel-held areas from Turkey, Jordan and Iraq. The document said:
(The UNSC is) gravely concerned at the lack of effective implementation of its resolutions” calling for greater facilitation of aid deliveries.(The UNSC feels) further grave concern at the continuing and growing impediments to the delivery of humanitarian assistance across conflict lines, including through a decline in convoy approvals by the Syrian authorities.
Between 2013 and 2015, it said, the percentage of convoys approved by Syrian authorities declined from 65% to 29%. In all, some 4.2 million Syrians have fled the country, while 4.5 million remain in “hard-to-reach areas,” the Security Council said. A total of 393,700 civilians are trapped in even worse off “besieged areas,” it said, warning:
The situation will continue to deteriorate further in the absence of a political solution to the Syrian conflict. (ie that Assad should just fuck off & die, after which we can deal with Hezbollah – RB
Niqnaq 