I thank Under-Secretary Lowcock for his briefing. We also extend gratitude to OCHA and UN humanitarian workers, who continue to provide aid to millions of people inside Syria, despite the on-going security challenges and the spread of COVID-19.
Unfortunately, some of the Council members have not made your job easier. Eight months since the closure of Al-Yaroubiyah crossing in the Northeast of Syria, we still see significant aid shortages in that region, particularly in the delivery of healthcare.
Same way, Syrian regime has not managed to facilitate cross-line aid to Northwest, where Bab Al-Salam was closed for cross-border deliveries two months ago. There is still no clear-cut agreement between humanitarian organizations and Syrian regime for bringing aid to Idlib in an efficient and reliable way.
As winter is coming, the existing aid caps lead to further uncertainty and hardships for millions of Syrians across the country. Estonia demands unimpeded humanitarian access to all parts of Syria.
President – finally – by imposing sanctions on the Syrian leadership, the European Union denies war criminals access to funds. We signal to the Syrian regime that punitive war tactics – such as targeting schools and hospitals, torture of political prisoners, and enforced disappearances – will not be dismissed as something normal.
It can certainly be argued, that the current relative calm in Idlib is also a result of the effectiveness of these coercive measures, daunting the Syrian regime and its allies from once again acting against the civilian population.
As such – sanctions work, and will continue to be in place until there is a credible political process underway in Syria, in line with the Security Council resolution 2254.
I thank you Mr. President.