Syria’s regime carried out new air strikes yesterday on the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, a monitor said, despite a UN Security Council demand for a ceasefire “without delay”. The Security Council on Saturday unanimously demanded a 30-day ceasefire to allow for humanitarian aid deliveries and medical evacuations. The measure did not specify when the truce would go into force beyond saying it should be “without delay”.The resolution, adopted after repeated delays, did not specify when the truce would go into force but said it should be implemented “without delay” to allow for humanitarian aid deliveries and medical evacuations.
Initially the resolution sponsored by Kuwait and Sweden called for a ceasefire to take effect 72 hours after its adoption, followed immediately by access for humanitarian convoys and medical teams to evacuate the critically ill and wounded. It stated that 5.6 million people in 1,244 communities were in “acute need,” including 2.9 million in hard-to-reach and besieged locations. In a bid to get Russian support, sponsors Kuwait and Sweden amended the draft resolution late Friday to drop a demand that the ceasefire take effect 72 hours after the resolution’s adoption.
After two hours of additional negotiations on Saturday, the Security Council unanimously approved the resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire across Syria “without delay” to deliver humanitarian aid to millions and evacuate the critically ill and wounded.
Rival parties have welcomed the adoption of the ceasefire but have also said they would respond to any violations.
As the world voiced condemnations and held meetings more than 500 people have lost their lives including more than 100 children. The pictures and videos that have been circulated in the media show unspeakable suffering and what the United Nations have dubbed “possible” war crimes. Any further delays in implementing the ceasefire could cause more needless death and pain for these poor people who have been under a government-imposed siege for years. Furthermore, the people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid including access to food, medicines and medical treatment.
The sinister targeting of hospitals by the Syrian regime has rendered the medical sector there nearly toothless. Many wounded have died from injuries that could have been treated if they had the access to proper medical care. Overwhelming medical staff have had to make painful decisions on who to save and who to let die because of the shortage of supplies and manpower and the sheer magnitude of the relentless week-long attacks. It is imperative that the bloodshed stop immediately. Already too many lives have been lost.
