UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: War Crimes likely to be committed by all sides
The UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Syria highlighted in its latest report released today the aerial and ground attacks carried out by Syrian Government forces and Russian Air forces last year in Idlib Governorate which decimated civilian infrastructure.
“All sides likely committed war crimes”, said Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic in a video message to the UN. “Children were shelled at schools, parents were shelled at the market, patients were shelled at the hospital, entire families were bombarded even while fleeing these attacks”.
Syrian children, women and men endured unfathomable suffering during the military campaign launched late 2019 by pro-government forces to re-take the last remaining areas under armed groups’ control in Syria.
The 29 - page report presented today at the United Nations in Geneva covers the period from November 2019 to June 2020 and was based on overflight data and witness testimony.
“We have actually investigated 52 counted violations, 17 attacks on hospitals, 14 attacks on schools, 9 on marketplaces and 12 others on residential buildings and other places”, said Hanny Megally, Member of the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. “Within that, we have found that war crimes were likely to have been committed by both the Syrian Airforce and by the Russian Airforce”.
The special investigation into recent events in Idlib province and surrounding areas which lead to nearly one million people being displaced in only three months was requested by the Human Rights Council.
The report concluded that the widespread and indiscriminate bombardment carried out by pro-government forces on Ma’arrat al-Nu’man and Ariha (Idlib governorate) as well as Atarib and Darat Azza (western Aleppo) which started in the second half of December and mid-February, foreseeably led to mass displacement and may amount to the crimes against humanity of forcible transfer, murder and other inhumane acts.
“We have come to the conclusion that attacks by the pro-government forces were so systemic and designed to force the population to move and a possible transfer of populations is a crime against humanity”, said Hanny Megally, Member of the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. “So, we think that again may have happened by both pro-government forces and by armed groups and terrorist organisations we have seen pillaging and looting happening which again are war crimes”.
The UN investigators also condemned attacks by terrorist fighters. They maintained that UN-designated terrorist-group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) indiscriminately shelled densely populated civilian areas “spreading terror” in Government-held areas.
As if the suffering for the nearly one million displaced civilians was not enough, the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic magnified the already dire humanitarian situation in Syria, including in Idlib and western Aleppo. “Some people are returning to their homes and places of prior displacement because the conditions in overcrowded camps are just dire and compounded by the looming threat of Covid-19”, said Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.
The COI’s Chair urged that “the very least the Security Council can do now is to renew and strengthen the cross-border and cross-line aid operations. Pandemics know no borders, nor should humanitarian aid”.
The Commission called on all parties to the conflict in Syria to cease attacks on civilians and civilian objects. “While we welcome last week’s resolution by the Security Council calling a 90 day pause in fighting, the Commission urges the parties to the conflict to hear the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy’s call for a lasting cease fire and the immediate return to negotiations to end this conflict”, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.
The Commission’s report is scheduled to be presented on 14th July to the Human Rights Council.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO
As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
The UN Human Rights Office released a new report on Myanmar, describing death, destruction and desperation which reflect atrocities committed in 2017.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR
Afghanistan: Humanitarians scramble to reach survivors of deadly quake; response at ‘breaking point’
In remote eastern Afghanistan, aid workers are racing to assist survivors of Sunday’s devastating earthquake as the death toll continues to climb, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, repeated his urgent call for a ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, amid increased military Israeli activity in the enclave’s largest city.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , WHO
Amid reports of increased Israeli military operations across Gaza City on Friday, UN aid agencies repeated urgent warnings of ongoing famine and a likely rise in preventable disease, linked to the dire living conditions in the war-shattered enclave.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN calls for Iran to halt executions and move towards ending the death penalty.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
The UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan made the following comment on the killing of journalists in Gaza at the bi-weekly press briefing.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday called on Egyptian authorities to end the practice known as “rotation”, which allows Government critics to be held arbitrarily and for prolonged periods.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on deadly attacks by the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , OHCHR , UNITED NATIONS , WFP , WHO
Gaza: Famine “irrefutably” confirmed, UN humanitarians unite in plea for aid access
Famine has been confirmed in Gaza Governorate by the world’s top authority on food security and will spread further within the Strip unless fighting stops and much more aid is allowed in, UN humanitarians said on Friday.