EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini has welcomed, on behalf of the EU, the adoption on 19 December by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) of Resolution 2393, which renews the authorisation of the cross-border humanitarian operations into Syria.
These operations are “desperately needed by 3 million people who still cannot be reached by any other means”, Mogherini said in a statement, adding that the EU was deeply concerned by the continued lack of humanitarian access to the 13.1 million people in need of assistance throughout Syria, including 1.3 million living in siege-like conditions.
She also spoke out in the strongest terms against the “continued systematic, widespread and gross violations and abuses of human rights” as well as recent attacks and the continued siege of Eastern Ghouta (near Damascus). “We urge the Syrian regime to allow immediate, sustained and unhindered access for aid deliveries and medical evacuations”, she said, reiterating that the regime’s persistent obstacles to humanitarian aid and medical evacuations in the area constitute a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and several UN Security Council resolutions.
She also welcomed the constructive and united engagement of the Syrian opposition - the Syrian Negotiation Commission - in the latest round of Geneva talks, but deplored the fact that the Syrian regime continues to obstruct these talks. Therefore, the EU “calls upon the regime’s allies, notably Russia, to ensure that the Syrian regime fully engages in this process”, she added, reiterating the EU’s support for the Geneva process. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)