24th February, 2013
A UN Security Council resolution has demanded all parties in the Syrian conflict allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to millions of civilians in the war-torn country.
The UN resolution, which was co-authored by Australia, was adopted unanimously by the Security Council. It expressed alarm at the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria and "the unacceptable and escalating level of violence and the death of well over 100,000 people in Syria, including over 10,000 children" and condemned the ongoing violation of human rights in the country.
As well as demanding an end to the violence, it demanded "that all parties allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance, including medical assistance, cease depriving civilians of food and medicine indispensable to their survival, and enable the rapid, safe and unhindered evacuation of all civilians who wish to leave", noting that "starvation of civilians as a method of combat is prohibited by international humanitarian law".
The resolution has been welcomed by aid groups.
Anthea Spinks, head of humanitarian and emergency affairs at World Vision Australia, commended the council for the resolution but said action to implement and enforce the resolution must be immediate if agencies are to provide assistance to "some of the most vulnerable Syrians, especially children".
"This Security Council’s strong condemnation of these violations couple with the resolution is a good first step toward protecting the children of Syria but unless the resolution is implemented swiftly, an entire generation of Syrians is still at risk of being lost."
The organisation says more than 9.3 million people inside Syria and 2.3 million refugees in neighbouring countries remain in desperate need of aid, with half of them children.
– DAVID ADAMS
