Delivered by Permanent Representative Mr. Sven Jürgenson
I thank the Presidency for organizing this VTC-meeting, and Special Envoy together with OCHA for their briefings under these complicated circumstances. I also welcome in this meeting the representatives of Turkey and Syrian Arab Republic.
As noted already by the briefers and other Council members – the spread of Covid-19 adds another layer of complexity to the Syrian crisis.
It is clear that the number of infected persons is growing, even if not reflected in the official data. As underlined by OCHA, the fragility of the Syrian healthcare system, combined with the spread of the virus; will further undermine Syrian IDPs.
On this note, we stress, that the work under the cross-border aid resolution 2504 remains vital in assisting the vast number of people in need. We note that the cross-line aid deliveries are improving, however the aid is still not reaching all the people, especially those who were formerly receiving support through the Al-Yaroubiah crossing in the Northeast of Syria.
The virus also threatens detainees in overcrowded prisons. We support Special Envoy Pedersen’s call for a large-scale release of arbitrarily detained people, and granting access to humanitarian organizations to those imprisoned. Announcement of a General Amnesty is certainly a step in the right direction, but there are still a lot of unresolved issues surrounding its implementation. There have been several of these announcements in the past with only limited results.
Finally, maintaining the ceasefire in Idlib remains crucial. It is important, both for the future of the political process, and preserving humanitarian access. The European Union has clearly voiced its call for a nationwide ceasefire. We repeat this here today.
