Syria: A3 Statement on the Political and Humanitarian Situation

Thank you Mr. President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3: Gabon, Ghana and Kenya.

We thank Special Envoy Geir Pedersen and ASG Joyce Msuya for their briefings. We also welcome the participation of the representatives of Syria, Iran and Turkey.

Our statement will focus on the political, security and humanitarian situation in Syria.

Mr. President,

The situation in Syria continues to demand our collective responsibility to protect and empower the Syrian people in their quest for sustained peace and stability. Progress on the political track is the lifeline in this regard.

We commend the Special Envoy's efforts that have led to the agreement to hold a seventh round of the Constitutional Committee meetings in the latter part of next month after a four-month hiatus. We commend the parties for the will to find agreement on the methodology. We see this as a promising development.

We reiterate our plea to the Parties to engage meaningfully and constructively in the interest of the millions of Syrians who are counting on their leadership towards a bright future.

We further look forward to the upcoming meeting of the Astana platform at the Foreign Minister level next month. It is our hope that this meeting would yield fruitful pathways that can gain headway and promise for Syria.

The A3 is also in support of other innovative avenues aimed at moving the political process forward. We take note of the Special Envoy's ongoing consultations on a step-for-step approach, and urge that its implementation, particularly in regard to humanitarian matters, be in clear accord to International Humanitarian Law.

Regional efforts play a critical role in supporting the people of Syria in their quest for lasting peace. Our experience in Africa is that the active positive engagement of neighbouring, and nearby, countries, particularly acting in a coordinated manner, is key to resolving difficult political and security crises. We therefore encourage regional support bearing in mind that Resolution 2254 remains the foremost roadmap to achieving the desired political solution to the crisis.

Mr. President,

On the security situation, the A3 condemns the unrelenting violence along contact lines in the Northwest of Syria and in Dar'a through airstrikes, ground-based strikes, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as well as explosive remnants of war (ERW).

The escalation of violence continues to cause damage to public infrastructure and hampers populations' access to public services, including health services, educational facilities, portable water, and essential items such as heating fuel and food.

The resultant destruction of human lives and livelihoods especially women, children and other vulnerable groups is repulsive and should be stopped at all cost.

It is fundamental that the nationwide ceasefire is respected and adhered to by all concerned parties, as it is increasingly clear that military options will not end the war.

In addition, the perils being visited upon innocent lives by Security Council listed groups such as ISIS/ISIL and the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) continues to be of grave concern. The A3 underscores the imperative for decisive collective actions to combat these terrorist groups in a manner that ensures that the victims get justice.

We also stress the imperative for the protection of civilians, humanitarian workers and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law and relevant UN resolutions.

Mr. President,

This leads me to the humanitarian situation. The A-3 notes with regret that 14.6 million people continue to be in need. The cross-border aid mechanism, complemented by crossline deliveries, remains a crucial avenue for humanitarian assistance and must be sustained in the interest of the people.

We further commend the continued deliveries of crossline aid in the Northwest as a result of the six-month plan and encourage the addition of medical supplies as part of that response.

We must caution against the politicisation or diversion of aid and call for clear standards of oversight and transparency of aid delivery for the cross-border mechanism as well as for crossline deliveries, while ensuring the protection of all humanitarian personnel and convoys.

We are also concerned about the impact of the pandemic that continues to disproportionately put women's social and economic prospects in jeopardy given the fragile state of the country and destructions as a result of years of conflicts.

Furthermore and given the dire economic situation marked by vast food insecurity, we urge all actors to support economic recovery measures as a key component to the longer-term peace that Syria and the region needs.

The A3 commends the Early Recovery and Livelihoods (ERL) activities under the United Nations' humanitarian response and encourages the expansion of such activities to include psycho-social support to the population, especially for women and children who have known unproportionally affected by the conflict situation.

It is imperative that these programmes be adequately funded so that they can meet their intended goal for sustained peace.

Mr. President, in closing we reiterate the importance for the respect of Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence. The A3's stands in solidarity with the people of Syria in their quest for peace which can only be delivered by a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process with international support.

I thank you.