October 06, 2016

Vetoing while Aleppo descends into hell?

located:	Syria
editor:	Murat Suner

According to Human Rights Watch research at least five hospitals have been damaged or partially destroyed by the use barrel bombs, cluster munitions, and incendiary weapons. The attacks were conducted by Russian and Syrian forces, killing about 320 civilians, including over 100 children.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council on September 28 that those using indiscriminate weapons in Aleppo “know they are committing war crimes.”

Security Council Resolution 2254, adopted on December 18, 2015, called on all parties to the conflict in Syria to “immediately cease any attacks against civilians and civilian objects as such, including attacks against medical facilities and personnel, and any indiscriminate use of weapons, including through shelling and aerial bombardment.”

Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch, demands that “the Security Council should not remain silent one more day about the unlawful assault on Aleppo. Council members should put their condemnation on the record, in a resolution, to remind Russia and Syria that the world is watching and that other council members will not be bystanders while Aleppo descends into hell. The Security Council should immediately adopt a resolution demanding an end to the slaughter. And Russia, itself involved in the bombing, should refrain from using its veto or risk further sullying its record as a permanent member of the council.”

Teaser image from hrw.org / © 2016 Reuters/Abdalrhman Ismail