Human rights groups warn of growing humanitarian crisis in besieged areas
The Syrian Network for Human Rights has documented 75 violations of the de-escalation agreement that came into force last month. The report says that the Syria regime of President Bashar al-Assad, as well as its Russian and Iranian allies, is responsible for the unlawful killing of civilians, arbitrary arrests and indiscriminate bombardment.
These violations have resulted in at least 108 civilian deaths, including 29 children. The four areas included in the de-escalation agreement agreed on 4 May 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan between Russia, Turkey and Iran are: Idlib governorate and the surrounding areas (Parts of Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia governorates), northern Homs governorate, eastern Ghouta, and parts of Daraa and Quneitra governorates in southern Syria.
Whilst some areas have seen a drop in bombardment levelssince the agreement went into effect, violations continue without consequences, with areas such as Daraa seeing a major escalation in violence. Executive Director of the Syrian Network for Human Rights Fadel Abdul Ghany, told The Media Line. “It is clear that such a limited de-escalation plan is neither sustainable, nor comprehensive enough to provide effective protection for Syrian civilians. Only an independent and impartial UN-led monitoring mechanism with enforceable consequences for violations will guarantee the Syrian people the safety they deserve, and enable the resumption of peace talks with a genuine chance of success.”
The report came as Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari told the Azad news agency (ANA) that a new round of talks to try to de-escalate the conflict in Syria will be held in early July in the Kazakh capital Astana. During the previous rounds of the Astana talks, mediated by Iran, Russia and Turkey, the trio signed documents to de-escalate tensions in Syria.
A joint working group of the three guarantor states has held three sessions, two in Ankara and one in Oslo, to specify technical and geographical details of four safe zones in Syria, he added.
“An important part of the issues raised among the three countries is resolved and general agreements have been reached on them,” said Jaberi Ansari, adding that the three sides have agreed to follow up on the remaining issues through diplomatic channels. The Astana talks have brought representatives from the Damascus government and opposition groups to the negotiating table over the Syria conflict, which broke out in March 2011.
Human rights activists working in Syria say that besieged areas in Syria have had no humanitarian access for more than two months, and Syrians living in besieged areas are in dire need of humanitarian aid.
“The current situation in Syria is getting worse every day,” Husam Alktlaby Executive Director of the Violations Documentation Center told The Media Line. “We are worried about more than a half million civilians under siege. We don’t believe that the de-escalation agreements can work without a full political solution.”
The conflict comes amid increasing tensions between the US and Russia over Syria. A US aircraft shot down a Syrian fighter jet on Sunday and Russia warned coalition fighters that its planes are now targets.