Ban pledges to find political solution for Syria conflict

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he and newly appointed Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and deputy Ramzy Ezzedin Ramzy will work with the Syrian parties, regional and international stakeholders to identify “new elements” for a political process that will end the violence in Syria and facilitate a peaceful political solution.

“A political solution is urgently needed in Syria,” he told the Security Council in his monthly report issued late Wednesday on the humanitarian access to the Syrian people. “Ways must be found to build bridges that promote peace and reconciliation, and to halt the influence of radical armed groups, including those affiliated with Al Qaeda.” To achieve that, he said, “the world must come together to stop funding and other support for organizations designated as terrorist groups” by the Security Council, including Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State.” He said that this month, thousands of people were killed, displaced and traumatized by indiscriminate attacks by the warring parties: The Government continues to drop barrel bombs indiscriminately in populated areas, and the armed groups indiscriminately and relentlessly use mortar shells on residential neighbourhoods.

He said human rights violations continue to be widespread, and attacks on medical facilities are on the increase in a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. Fundamental principles of humanity also continue to be ignored every day, he added. “Deliberately targeting civilians is a war crime for which there can be no impunity,” he reminded the Syrian warring parties which continue to “obstruct humanitarian assistance to those most in need and to withhold consent for operations in a completely arbitrary manner as a tactic of war.” “I call upon the parties to the conflict to lift the sieges immediately and facilitate access to people in need of humanitarian assistance. I remind the parties to this conflict that their obligation to allow and facilitate access for humanitarian assistance is demanded by the Security Council, by international humanitarian law, and by the most basic principles of humanity,” he urged.