Aid workers distribute food to displaced people in a refugee camp in the countryside of Hasakah City, Syria, Nov. 21, 2019. (Str/Xinhua)
The Syrian government bears the primary responsibility to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria, including preventing and containing the spread of COVID-19. Its role cannot be replaced, said a Chinese UN envoy.
UNITED NATIONS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Any further decision by the Security Council on the cross-border humanitarian aid mechanism for Syrians must respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, said a Chinese envoy on Monday.
"With regard to cross-border humanitarian assistance, we take note that there are still needs for such operations in Syria, while relevant parties have different positions on the cross-border mechanism," said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.
"We believe that any decision of the Security Council must show respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. We are willing to maintain communication with fellow council members on this issue," he told the Security Council.
The Syrian government bears the primary responsibility to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria, including preventing and containing the spread of COVID-19. Its role cannot be replaced, said Zhang.
The current cross-border aid mechanism, authorized by the Security Council, expires on July 10.
In his briefing to the Security Council, UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock noted the secretary-general's request for the renewal of the authorization of the two border crossings for 12 months.
The current levels of assistance delivered across the border are far from sufficient. The cross-border operation needs to be scaled up further, said Lowcock.
A failure to extend the cross-border authorization would sever the UN operation currently under way. It would end the UN food deliveries and the support to nutrition centers. It would cause suffering and death, he warned. ■
