Sabbagh discusses with Guterres and Igger humanitarian needs in Syria
Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh, head of the Syrian delegation to the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, discussed with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres aspects of cooperation between the Syrian government and the United Nations, and exchanged views on all the challenges facing Syria.
During the meeting, Ambassador Sabbagh highlighted the disastrous effects of the illegal unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States of America and the European Union on the Syrian people, stressing that they are the main reason for the difficult economic and humanitarian situation in Syria.
Sabbagh renewed Syria’s condemnation of the repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory and the violation of its sovereignty, which targeted vital civilian facilities such as airports, ports, and residential neighborhoods. He also condemned the illegal Israeli occupation practices in the occupied Syrian Golan, which represent a dangerous escalation that pushes the region into an unprecedented state of tension and instability.
Sabbagh expressed his thanks to the Secretary-General for launching the urgent appeal to raise funds to help Syria after the devastating earthquake that struck it on February 6.
For his part, the Secretary-General expressed his concern about the growing humanitarian needs of the Syrians, and his feeling of great sadness to see their suffering, indicating that he is attaching great importance to the continued cooperation to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches all Syrians.
In a related context, Ambassador Sabbagh discussed with Mirjana Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, ways to enhance and develop joint cooperation between the Syrian government and the International Committee of the Red Cross to achieve a better humanitarian response that meets the needs of the Syrians.
Sabbagh highlighted the important humanitarian role played by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Syria, and its support for efforts to improve the humanitarian and living situation of Syrians throughout the country.
He also called for the need to mobilize the necessary resources and funding to confront the growing humanitarian needs resulting from the repercussions of the devastating earthquake and the illegal coercive unilateral measures.
He highlighted the Israeli occupation authorities’ grave violations of international humanitarian law against our people in the occupied Golan, especially in terms of confiscating their agricultural lands to build wind turbines.
In turn, Igger indicated that she visited Syria after the earthquake, and saw the large scale of humanitarian needs, expressing the keenness of the International Committee of the Red Cross to help all Syrians and do everything possible to alleviate their suffering.
Inas Abdulkareem