Foreign minister calls on Syrian rebels to ensure Ghouta residents receive aid
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said yesterday that rebels in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta were responsible for ensuring that a “humanitarian pause” in the area delivered relief for devastated civilians.
“Russia, together with the Syrian government, has already announced the establishment of humanitarian corridors in Eastern Ghouta,” Mr Lavrov told the UN Human Rights Council.
“Now it is the turn for the militants and their sponsors to act – militants entrenched there who still continue shelling Damascus, blocking aid deliveries and the evacuation of those wishing to leave,” he said.
Tuesday was the first day of the five-hour daily pause in the rebel-held Damascus suburbs, which was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Syrian regime’s main ally.
But the truce was marred by violence, with Moscow and Damascus accusing armed groups of shelling the humanitarian corridor.
Yesterday, Syrian regime forces continued to clash with rebels on the outskirts of the enclave. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting was fierce and broke out overnight in the rebel-held areas.
Early yesterday, before the humanitarian pause took effect again, Syrian forces pounded Eastern Ghouta with air strikes and artillery fire, the Observatory said.
The Eastern Ghouta truce falls short of a broader 30-day ceasefire that Russia agreed to at the UN Security Council on Saturday, but which has yet to take effect.
Yesterday, France’s Foreign Ministry said that unlike rebel groups in the besieged area, the Syrian government has not committed to the UN-backed ceasefire.
Mr Lavrov said the Security Council resolution could offer a reprieve to those suffering across Syria, but said that it was up to the opposition and its allies in Washington.
“The people of Syria today face the most dire humanitarian crisis,” Mr Lavrov said. “UN Security Council Resolution 2401 has established a framework for all parties to agree on conditions to alleviate the plight of civilians throughout the country.
“We call upon the members of the so-called American coalition to ensure the same humanitarian access to the areas in Syria under their control.”
Also yesterday, Turkey sharply criticised France and the US for arguing that a ceasefire in Syria should apply to its military operation against the Kurdish militia People’s Protection Units as tensions mounted between Ankara and its Nato allies.