Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
New York, SANA- Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Bassam Sabbagh, renewed the necessity of immediately lift the illegitimate blockade imposed by the US and the EU on the Syrian people.
Sabbagh said, during a Security Council session held on Wednesday, that this blockade constitutes a collective punishment and economic terrorism that greatly harm the State’s efforts in the humanitarian and developmental fields and the Syrians ability to obtain their basic needs.
“Syria continues its constructive cooperation with UN agencies and other affiliated bodies to improve the humanitarian situation and provide services and support to the needy throughout the country,” he went on to say.
He expressed Syria’s condemnation on the Turkish occupation forces and their tools of terrorist groups blocked the passage to the towns of Saramada and Atareb in northwestern Syria, of two convoys of the World Food Program that were approved by the Syrian government several months ago.
He referred to the UN Secretary General’s latest report in which he confirmed that during the period between last January and July, 1,588 trucks crossed into the Syrian al-Jazeera area to provide humanitarian aid, that is, an average of 227 trucks per a month, compared to 199 trucks during the same period in 2020.
He stressed that the WHO delivered three shipments via two air bridges and a convoy, asserting that the report reaffirmed providing aid to millions of Syrians in all provinces, including food aid to some 4,800,000 people.
He stressed that all these achievements would not have been possible without the cooperation, facilities and support provided by the Syrian government.
Sabbagh reiterated Syria’s commitment to deliver aid inside the country, adherence to its stance calling for putting an end to the politicized so-called “cross-border mechanism”, asserting that this mechanism violates Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He stressed the importance of enabling the UN to accomplish the agreement with the Syrian government on the strategic framework that some Western governments continue to hinder its implementation, and supporting efforts of achieving sustainable development.
Sabbagh pointed out that the coercive measures imposed by some Western countries on Syria have led to significant shortages of food, medicine, medical supplies, fuel and electricity.
Sabbagh expressed Syria’s readiness to cooperate with the UN agencies and to offer facilitations to their work in light of full respect for Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, noting that Syria aspires for true partnerships that support its efforts to restore security and stability, provide assistance to those who need them, and enhance developmental work and rehabilitation of the infrastructure to maintain safe return to the displaced people to their homes.
Hala Zain