UAE Press calls for ensuring protection of Syrian civilians

The current situation in Syria is a matter of deep concern. Even after half a million precious lives have been lost and millions remain displaced, the plight of Syrians continues unabated, a UAE newspaper has commented on the Syrian Crisis.

“It is necessary that all parties involved in the conflict realise the safety of civilians is of paramount importance,” said The Gulf Today in an editorial on Thursday.

The paper continued, “The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has rightly called on the international community to take all necessary action and measures that guarantee the safety and protection of civilians and to end the violence in Syria.

“As per Panos Moumtzis, UN’s regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis, nearly 700,000 Syrians have been forced to flee their homes this year because of fighting in several parts of the country. More than 400,000 people had been displaced by military operations in the northern governorate of Idlib. Violence is also continuing in southern Damascus and northern Homs province and the northeast and south of Syria.”

The paper quoted the UN refugee agency as saying that tens of thousands of people remain trapped in Douma and nearly a quarter of a million people need aid urgently in the wider Eastern Ghouta area. More than 133,000 people have fled Eastern Ghouta in the past month and one-third of that number have been given shelter in eight UN centres in Rural Damascus. Unfortunately, these are overcrowded and pose a serious health risk.

“The collective failure of the international community to stop the colossal destruction caused by the Syrian conflict, which has entered its eighth year, will remain a blot on human conscience,” said the editorial comment, adding, “The gravity of crimes against the Syrian people is too shocking. All that they have seen in the last few years are death, destruction, hunger and misery. A full two-thirds of Syria’s 8.4 million children need humanitarian assistance, while one million of them live in areas that are difficult to reach by aid convoys and 170,000 in besieged areas.

“The UAE is absolutely correct in calling for the establishment of an inquiry commission and holding those responsible for the chemical weapons attacks accountable.

“There is a need to activate the Arab role in joint international efforts to advance the mechanisms of the political situation.

“All Syrian parties should return to the negotiating table and immediately implement all relevant resolutions, particularly UNSC Resolution No.2254 and the Geneva Communique.

“A political solution is the only way to end the Syrian crisis and establish security and stability in the region,” concluded the Sharjah-based daily.