SYRIA, 56th Session of the UNHRC
Statement by a Russian representative during the interactive dialogue with the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, 56th Session of the UNHRC
(July 3, 2024, Geneva)
The situation in Syria is unprecedentedly severe: 16.7 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance. There are several reasons for this.
Firstly, it is due to the external aggression and terrorism. In the US-occupied northeast of Syria, women and children are essentially imprisoned without trial in the open-air camps of "Al-Hol" and "Roj". In the "al-Sina’a" prison, healthy inmates are placed in the same quarters as those who are terminally ill, without being provided with necessary medical care. Unlawful strikes by Israel across the Syrian territory result in human casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. In addition, illegal foreign intervention has led to a surge in terrorism. In Idlib, a terrorist enclave has effectively formed where "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham" uses the population as a "human shield".
Secondly, there are unilateral restrictive measures. These not only hinder the recovery of the republic but also significantly complicate the humanitarian response in the country, including due to "over-compliance".
Thirdly, even amidst the food and energy crisis in Syria, the so-called anti-ISIS coalition hypocritically participates in the illegal export of oil and grain from the country, depriving Syrians of their natural resources in such difficult times.
Fourthly, in the context of Syria, we face blatant politicization of the humanitarian dossier, which is used to pressure the Government of Syria.
Attempts to divert the discussion away from addressing these mentioned issues only serve to obscure the responsibility of those who are truly provoking the deepening suffering of the Syrian population and hindering the resolution of the crisis in this country.
