China appeals to UN on behalf of Syria

As the fragile humanitarian situation in Syria worsens in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, China's envoy to the United Nations called on the international community to support the Syrian government from all sides.

According to Ramesh Rajasingham, the UN's deputy emergency relief coordinator, COVID-19 is having a dramatic impact on health services in Syria, where limited testing is obscuring the real extent of the pandemic.

Rajasingham told the UN Security Council on Thursday that official COVID-19 figures suggest that community transmission of the novel coronavirus is widespread in Syria, with the majority of the 2,440 cases confirmed by the Syrian Ministry of Health not traceable to any known source.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday put the number of COVID-19 deaths in Syria at 98, with 75 new cases reported.

"The development of the COVID-19 pandemic in Syria cannot be overlooked. Forceful measures as well as more assistance must be put in place," said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, during a Security Council virtual meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria.

Zhang said the Syrian government has taken decisive action in many areas to reduce the risk of public transmission and save lives, and the international community needs to back the efforts.

"We are glad to know that UN has formed 112 rapid response teams, and WHO provided dedicated training for 432 persons," Zhang said, adding that China has already delivered two batches of medical supplies to Syria.

"Last week, we provided specialized medical equipment to children's hospitals in Syria. We will continue to provide necessary assistance to the Syrian people," he said.

Zhang said the economic situation in Syria is extremely fragile and that the international community should support the Syrian government to revitalize its economy.

"We acknowledge that the Syrian government has made commendable efforts in order to improve the livelihoods of the Syrian people, including implementing agricultural reform, helping small businesses, facilitating intergovernorate transportation and combating the COVID-19 pandemic," said Zhang. "The international community should support Syria's endeavor with concrete actions and assistance.

"In addition, it should support Syria to defend its sovereignty and manage its own natural resources," he said, adding that Syria's oil fields belong to the Syrian people and cannot be subject to illegal foreign plunder.

Zhang said years of unilateral sanctions have caused tremendous hardship for the Syrian people and must be lifted immediately.

The unilateral coercive measures are damaging the Syrian economy, destroying the livelihoods of civilians and undermining Syria's capacity to respond to COVID-19, he said.

"China strongly urges the United States to respond actively to these urgent appeals and lift unilateral sanctions without delay," he said.

Zhang called on all stakeholders, especially the UN agencies, to increase input and coordination in humanitarian operations in Syria.

Zhang said China welcomes recent progress in cross-line humanitarian operations. There have been missions from Syria's capital, Damascus, to both the northeast and northwest parts of the country.

"We call on the UN to continue strengthening cooperation with the Syrian government, and to scale up cross-line operations in combination with cross-border deliveries," he said.

In his remarks, Zhang pointed out that the security situation in Syria deserves special attention.

"The international community should continue to support Syria in fighting terrorism, in line with international law and Security Council resolutions," he said.

"Counterterrorism is an unfinished battle and a long-term task. Cease-fire does not mean let loose terrorist activities. The international community must keep alert and adopt unified standards to combat terrorism, including in Syria," he said.

With regard to the political process, Zhang reiterated China's firm support for a "Syrian-led, Syrian-owned" political process.

Zhang also rejected the "groundless accusations" of the US and strongly urged that country to stop politicizing the Syrian humanitarian issue.