Statement by H.E. Ambassador Koro Bessho
Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations
At the Security Council Briefing on the Humanitarian Situation in Syria
27 April 2017
Madam President,
I thank Mr. O’Brien for his briefing.
We have heard many times that the situation in Syria cannot get any worse, yet this tragic crisis continues. 13.5 million people need humanitarian assistance. Even March’s so-called “improved” access allowed aid convoys to reach only 39% of people for whom access was requested. There has been some progress on the hard-to-reach areas since the 12 February agreement between the Syrian Higher Committee for Relief and the UN, but the situation in the besieged areas is still devastating. And we can only imagine the horror of the evacuees on 15 April who had finally exited their besieged towns, only for their convoy to be brutally targeted in Al Rashedeen.
The many victims of the tragedy in Syria include not only ordinary civilians but also the people who are trying to help them. Nearly one year has passed since the adoption of resolution 2286, which called for protection of medical staff, yet countless medical personnel and humanitarian workers are still being killed in Syria. I would like to take this opportunity to express our sorrow and gratitude to them, and pay our respect to those brave man and women who continue to work for those in need under most severe circumstances.
Madam President,
The Council and the ISSG Humanitarian Taskforce have been making strenuous efforts to achieve rapid, safe and unhindered access throughout Syria, as mandated by resolution 2254. Our attention has been extensive, but any progress is often hard-won.
Over the past year, we have worked to identify concrete measures, obstacles, and areas to be reached. Yet we have constantly encountered bureaucratic impediments and unreasonably delayed clearances from the Syrian Government. Every inter-agency convoy’s departure or potential cancellation is a subject of worry, and every item is potentially at risk of being withdrawn from the convoy.
Furthermore, it is clear that facilitation letters issued by the Syrian Government are crucial. It is tragic and unbelievable that one bureaucratic document can be so critical for access to thousands of people. The humanitarian co-penholders, Egypt, Sweden and Japan, have discussed this matter directly with the Syrian Mission here. We urged Syria to make more efforts to issue letters immediately, in line with the UN’s call to issue them within 2-3 days. We believe that the Syrian Mission conveyed our joint message to Damascus, and the co-penholders will strive to achieve as much as possible in this area.
One of our most urgent concerns at present is Eastern Ghouta. Mr. O’Brien explained that the UN is requesting a cessation of hostilities to allow humanitarian access. Japan supports this call. But the need for a ceasefire is not limited to Eastern Ghouta: we are concerned by many reports of fighting in various locations. The next Astana Process meeting at the beginning of May will be crucial to preserving the ceasefire mechanism which allows for humanitarian access.
Madam President,
While the details and logistics I have mentioned are vitally important for Syria, we should also keep two broader goals in mind. First is the importance of the political process. Although the recent Geneva talks did not yield a breakthrough, there was also no breakdown. This is an implicit affirmation that there is no military solution to the conflict. We must act on this progress to gain commitments which translate into life-saving changes on the ground.
The second broad point is the need for truth and accountability. We have seen so much destruction and so many crimes during this six-year war, in particular the use of chemical weapons. Justice may not come immediately, but the UN and other humanitarian actors must use their various tools, including those granted by the Security Council, to ascertain facts on the ground. These facts will form the basis for accountability, and for addressing the suffering of the Syrian people.
With these two broader goals in mind, we must continue our efforts unabated to achieve good-faith cooperation and humanitarian access from the Syrian Government in order to serve those most in need.
I thank you, Madam President.
