Sanctions by US cause the suffering for the Syrian people

Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Dr. Bashar al-Jaafari, stressed that Syria will go ahead with its war against terrorism until the last inch of its land is liberated despite some western states’ continued efforts to impede and politicize humanitarian activity in Syria in service of their political agendas.

“It’s strange how some of the delegations from permanent members of the Security Council insist on confusing humanitarian and political issues, as these delegations continue to obstruct humanitarian efforts in Syria,” Al-Jaafari’s added during a Security Council session held Monday to discuss the UN Secretary General’s report on the humanitarian situation in Syria.

He noted that in conjunction with this session, the illegal “international coalition” targeted Hajin city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor with white phosphorus bombs and as a result of that a whole family being martyred, and in conjunction with the previous session three days ago, terrorists in Idleb fired 40 rockets at Aleppo city causing the martyrdom and injury of tens of civilians.

“In addition, the so-called coalition warplanes’ bombarded al-Sousa and al-Bubadran towns in Deir Ezzor in coincidence with the UNSC session held on the 17th of current month,” al-Jaafari said, adding that all these acts have not been seen either by the governments of the same states which are tackling the humanitarian situation here today or by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The recently held meetings between the Under-Secretary General of the UN and some Syrian officials stressed the need to coordinate joint efforts in order to achieve more understanding between the two sides and overcome as much obstacles as possible despite all difficulties due to the decrease in the amount of overall funding for the UN activities in Syria and the unilateral coercive economic sanctions imposed by the US and the EU countries which cause suffering for the Syrian people, said al-Jaafari.

He added “We heard that they have been shedding crocodile tears over the fact that there are some 10 million Syrians require humanitarian assistance, but at the same time they continue to impose unilateral coercive procedures against 23 million Syrians.”

Al-Jaafari said that Syria believes in the neutral, independent, and non-politicized role of the UN in helping the Syrians affected by terrorism, and this role must respect Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

He called for conducting a transparent, objective and professional discussion on amending the mechanism of submitting reports on the so-called the humanitarian situation in Syria in order to help needy Syrians as their main goal instead of using these reports as a tool to put pressure and political blackmail.

Addressing a report on the “humanitarian situation” in Syria, al-Jaafari said that it is illogical for those who made the report to maintain their politicized attitude towards Syria and keep overstepping their mandate, given the fact that top Western officials have confessed to their governments’ involvement in funding and sponsoring terrorists in Syria.

The Syrian diplomat said that Syria sent 56 official responses to reports from the OCHA in which it provided clear answers to all questions, but OCHA reports overlooked these notes, meantime reports by eyewitnesses and White Helmets’ members find their way into the OCHA.

He said that the Syrian government approved sending an aid convoy to al-Rukban camp by the UN in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the International Committee of the Red Cross, but it returned immediately to Damascus due to reports on anticipated terrorist attack by Daesh members against the convoy despite the pledges made by Washington to guarantee its safety which once again set evidence on that the US is the main obstacle which prevents the delivery of aid to the camp.

Al-Jaafari regretted that the report promoted so-called “cross-border aid” that didn’t reach those who need it but rather went to terrorists.

He asserted that in addition to the Syrian army’s achievements, the Syrian government made preparations to facilitate the return of displaced Syrians to their home country, and that Syria will continue fighting terrorism until the entirety of its territory is rid of terrorism and any illegal foreign presence.

Commenting on some countries’ statements on Idleb, al-Jaafari said that Idleb is a Syrian city and the Syrian government is keen on the life of its citizens who have been used as human shields by terrorist groups, noting that Syria has welcomed Sochi agreement signed on the 17th of September and it will always welcome any initiative to end the shedding of Syrian blood and contribute to restoring security and stability to the entire Syrian territory.