7 September 2018 Statement

Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations

وفد دولة الكويت الدائم لدى اﻷمم المتحدة

Madame President,

At the outset, I would like to thank the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, for his valuable briefing and for his efforts in the Syrian political process. I would also like to thank the Director of Operations of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, John Ging, for his briefing, and I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the efforts of all humanitarian workers in Syria. I will deliver my statement on behalf of the Syria humanitarian penholders, Kuwait and Sweden.

Today’s meeting of the Security Council is taking place at a very critical time. Reports are increasing of a possible military escalation in Idlib province, the international community is anxious and international aid agencies are preparing. The situation in Idlib is different from Aleppo, Eastern Ghouta and Daraa. Idleb is home to nearly 3 million people - half of them internally displaced. Large-scale military operations, if they take place, will be disastrous and their humanitarian consequences will be dire for the inhabitants if no arrangements are reached between the parties concerned. If this escalation occurs, where will these innocent civilians go to avoid artillery and air bombardments to survive - they and their families? What is known to us now is that there is no safe place for them to resort to.

We urge all parties to abide by the de-escalation agreement in Idlib, and we hope that we will not see once again a de-escalation area turning to an escalation area. We also share with the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, his appeal to the Government of Syria and all parties to exercise restraint and to prioritize the protection of civilians; as well as his call on the Astana guarantors to step up efforts to find a peaceful solution to the situation in Idlib. We refer here to the summit of the Astana guarantors today, and we expect them to respect relevant Security Council resolution and ensure that their own de-escalation agreement in Idlib is respected. We stress the importance of giving diplomatic efforts more time, attention and redoubling these efforts by all to avoid more bloodshed. The images of death and destruction from Aleppo and Eastern Ghouta still remain in our memory. The Syrian people have suffered enough. The exposure to flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law over the past eight years without any accountability is enough.

Madame President,

Military attacks against terrorist groups as designated by this Council does not in any way relieve any party to the conflict from its obligations under international law, including complying with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution and protecting civilians and civilian objects. Even wars have rules to be observed. Let us remember that innocent civilians – children, women and the elder – make up the vast majority of the population in Idlib, not terrorists.

We commend the predisposition of humanitarian supplies by OCHA and their partners in preparation for a disaster in Idlib. We urge donors to step up their contributions to the humanitarian response and call on all parties to allow and facilitate rapid, safe and sustained humanitarian access to those in need. In this context, the cross-border assistance modality is a vital part of the humanitarian response in Syria. Millions of Syrians depend on the modality, not least close to 2 million people in Idlib and neighboring areas. There is no doubt that these needs will be exacerbated in the event of any military operation.

Madame President,

The reports coming in are concerning and we remind all parties of their responsibilities under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. The systematic attacks against civilian areas in Idlib province and beyond, including schools, hospitals and medical facilities, must cease immediately. Humanitarian and medical personnel must be protected in line with international humanitarian law. In this regard, we reaffirm the need to respect Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2401, submitted by Kuwait and Sweden in February this year, calling for a cessation of hostilities without delay and the delivery of humanitarian aid; resolution 2286 on the protection of hospitals and medical personnel; and resolution 2427 on children and armed conflict. Resolutions that are not implemented on the ground have no value. We also reject impunity and stress the need for accountability and renew our support for the Commission of Inquiry and the IIIM.

Madame President,

The Security Council has a humanitarian, moral and legal responsibility towards the population of Idlib, and this Council must seek meaningful preventative action. The series of meetings of the Council on Syria in general and Idlib specifically this week, including our meeting today, are critical to this end. We appreciate and support Staffan de Mistura's efforts in Idlib and in all of Syria. We reaffirm that the best way to reach a sustainable solution to the Syrian crisis and end the humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib in particular remains a UN-facilitated political solution in accordance with resolution 2254 and the 2012 Geneva Communique.

In conclusion, Madame President, Kuwait and Sweden will do their utmost to push the Security Council to explore all meaningful options and to ensure that the Council closely follows the developments in Idlib. As penholders and significant donors to the humanitarian response to Syria, Kuwait and Sweden will continue their role to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people and to ensure that the Security Council upholds its responsibilities in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and relevant Security Council resolutions.

Thank you, Madame President.

(English Translation)