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The “dire needs” of Syrians have been systematically ignored during the 12 years of conflict in the country, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria warned on Tuesday. In its latest report, the United Nations Human Rights Council (OHCHR) body found that attacks on civilians, escalating fighting, economic decline and human rights violations persist, despite the country’s re-admission to the League of Arab States. The continued war in Syria is a “monument to the failure of diplomacy” said Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry. Speaking in Geneva at the launch of the report, Mr Pinheiro called on all parties to the conflict to cease the attacks on civilians following the recent wave of demonstrations. He urged the government in Damascus to respond positively to Syrians’ legitimate aspirations and rights before the country “plunges deeper into escalating violence and economic decline”.
The Commission Chairperson reiterated the need to review “unilateral coercive measures” imposed by the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia and Switzerland from 2011 onwards, while calling for the easing of sanctions since the earthquake on 6 February 2023 to be maintained. He pointed out that at the time of the earthquake, the Commission received “multiple reports of aid diversion, extortion and corruption,” and documented “obstruction and interference in aid delivery” in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.
The “Government and other parties needless hindered lifesaving aid” and “no party answered our call for a ceasefire. They continue shelling and they continue the war without any problems,” Mr Pinheiro said.
Citing the report, Mr Pinheiro explained that a single airstrike on 25 June killed or injured over 37 civilians at an outdoor vegetable market in Idlib in northwest Syria held by opposition forces that should have been observable to the military coordinators of the attack. He added that of the 15 attacks documented in the earthquake-affected area, several may constitute war crimes.
Commenting on the impact on ordinary Syrians, Commissioner Hanny Megally described the experience of truffle gatherers in central Syria: “We're seeing an increase, [in] people fighting over economic needs and survival and that results in violence, abductions.” People fighting over the truffle market is “an example of the country descending into that state of insecurity”, he said.
In a positive development, Mr. Pinheiro noted that families seeking clarity on the fate of detained, disappeared and missing loved ones had received “long-awaited welcome news” following the establishment of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria by the General Assembly in June. “I think if we have positive news to share with you, it is precisely the establishment of this mechanism on the missing,” he said.
Mr. Megally voiced concerns over beliefs that “peace is returning to Syria” and that
“Normalization is being talked about”. He warned that conversely, the report documents “a rise in unrest and a rise in conflict”.
STORY: LATEST REPORT ON SYRIA - HRC COMMISSION OF INQUIRY
TRT: 04:31”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 12 SEPT 2023, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Exterior wide shot, United Nations flag flying.
- Wide shot of panel and attendees at press briefing.
- SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry:“Despite diplomatic efforts to stabilize the situation in Syria, including through the readmission to the League of Arab States, Syrians continue to suffer from escalating fight and unrest along multiple front lines, extremely severe economic deterioration and persistent human rights violations and abuse.”
- Attendee at briefing.
- SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “Before Syria plunges deeper into this cycle of escalating violence and economic decline, the Commission would like to call on the key actors to respond to the dire needs of the civilian population.”
- Wide shot behind panel and attendees at press briefing.
- SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “The needs of the Syrian people have been systematically ignored by all the parties to this conflict during the last 12 years.”
- Wide shot of panel.
- SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Hanny Magelly, Commissioner of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “In central Syria, you know, we relate in the report to the experience of truffle gatherers, where we're seeing, again, an increase, you know, people are fighting over economic needs and survival and that results in violence, abductions. People are fighting over the, you know, the truffle marketing, so to speak, as an example of the country descending into that state of insecurity.”
- Photographer at briefing.
- SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “The Commission received multiple reports at that time of aid diversion, extortion and corruption and documented aid obstruction and interference in aid delivery in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.
- Mid-view of attendees.
- SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “Following this devastating earthquake in February, the report documents how the government of the parties needless hindered life-saving aid and no party decided to answer our call for a cease-fire, and they continue shelling and they continue the war without any problems.”
- Photographer at briefing.
- SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “Family seeking clarity on the fate of detained, disappear and missing loved ones also receive the long-awaited welcome news following the establishment of the Independent Institution of Missing Persons in Syria by the General Assembly in June. I think if we have a positive news to share with you is precisely the establishment of this mechanism on the missing.”
- Wide view of briefing.
- SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Hanny Magelly, Commissioner of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry: “We are concerned that the rest of the world thinks that peace is returning to Syria or that the State may have won the war and that normalization is what's being talked about, etc. And yet, if you read our report, you'll see what we're seeing is a rise in unrest and a rise in conflict.”
- Wide of attendees at briefing
- SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Paulo Pinheiro, Chair of the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry:“The 12 years of war in Syria are a monument to the failure of diplomacy and anything that can happen in terms of diplomacy, I think that is decisive, to end the war.”
- Mid-shot of attendees.
- Close-up of attendee.
- Mid-view from behind panel.
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