Mister Chairperson,

The humanitarian situation in Syria remains a great concern to all of us.

At the same time lots of efforts are exerted by UN humanitarian family, states, other humanitarian organisations, including ICRC to alleviate the suffering of the people. We note with satisfaction OCHA is working effectively in Syria. We commend its consistent cooperation with Damascus that is bringing fruit. In August 4 mln. people were reached, including in hard-to-reach areas. 109 UN requests, including 51 visa requests, were approved though. Authorisation was given to UNISEF to reach Douma, Harasta, Foua and Kefraya. WHO was authorized to deliver medical aid to Douma. NGO "Rebuild Iraq" was granted to operate. We expect the same approach from authorities for the Norwegian Refugee Council. In Yalda, Babila and Beit Sahm UNRWA delivered food and medicine.

This positive tendency should be consolidated. Russia for its part will continue convincing the Syrian Government to exercise collaborative approach.

At the same time Russia continues to provide humanitarian aid to Syrians by bilateral channels. 4 days ago another 80 tons of direct humanitarian aid were delivered by Russian planes to Latakia in addition to thousands of tons delivered during the conflict. These planes also evacuated hundreds of Russians, Ukrainians, Kazakhs, Belarusians and other nationalities. Yesterday a new constructed IDP camp in Hama constructed by Russian Government was opened. It is fully qioped and ready to immediately accommodate hundreds of people.

Having said that I can't ignore certain worrying tendencies.

I have to express regret that huge territories of Syria that were seized by ISIS and Jabha an-Nusra remain a black hole in terms of need assessment and deliveries.

We are as well worried by lack of financing of the UN response plan. Those countries which pledged to allocate money should fulfil their commitments.

Unilateral economic restrictions remain an absurd relict of a double-standard approach to Syrian people sufferings. Countries that imposed restrictions are providing humanitarian aid by one hand and closing access to basic needs by the other. They must admit that mere lifting of sanctions will bring relief to civilians.

Unfortunately we still witness senseless and counterproductive attempts to politicize humanitarian action and use it as a pretext to foreign intervention. While the international community should unite for the sake of security and stability of the region such behaviour must stay in the past. The lesson for all of us was the huge fuss around cross-border access which in the end brought insignificant, not to say tiny results.

Mister Chairperson,

Against this background local ceasefire deals improve humanitarian situation, create conditions for return of refugees and reconstruction. We welcome the recent agreement between the Syrian Government and armed groups on a cease-fire in Qudsiya where people already started to return to their homes. We commend humanitarian actions from the Government that were proposed to moderate opposition fighters. This includes the decision of the Government to deliver medical assistant to militants from Agnad ash-Sham who were wounded while fighting ISIS.

It's important that in localities where fighting stopped UN humanitarian agencies start looking into possibilities of reconstruction and rebuilding, launching programmes to support communities, including small business. They could also consider a possibility of empowering Syrians to produce some humanitarian aid, including food, locally. In short, there is a need to link humanitarian aid and assistant for development.

Mister Chairperson,

Today it has become crystal clear that all existing threats engendered by events in Syria and region are interrelated. To solve humanitarian crisis, let refugees return to their homes and start rebuilding infrastructure we need to eradicate root causes of the problem, which is terrorism.

Syria, Iraq, Libya turned into a magnet of jihadists who kill, destroy and provoke exodus of people. Combatting this threat demands consolidated efforts of all forces that oppose it on the ground – Syrian and Iraqi armies, Kurds and moderate Syrian opposition groups. External players must also contribute. This is the gist of the Russian counter-terrorism initiative that was proposed by President Putin in June. We do expect a positive response from our partners.

At the same time meaningful political process in Syria that will bring all sides to negotiating table under UN auspices and leave no room to radicals has to start. Russia is ready to facilitate efforts by UN Special Representative S.de Mistura to launch such a process.

I thank you.