The situation in Aleppo

1The Parliamentary Assembly is appalled by the tragic situation in Aleppo, a Syrian city that has been partially under the control of rebel fighters and jihadist groups since 2012 and has become the epicentre of the Syrian war, now in its sixth year.

2Throughout one of the worst humanitarian crises since the Second World War, over 300 000 Syrians have lost their lives, more than 6.5 million people have been displaced inside the country and some 4.8 million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. About 70% of the population is without access to drinking water, one in three people are unable to meet their basic food needs, more than 2 million children are out of school, and four out of five people live in poverty.

3The Assembly refers in particular to its Resolution 1878 (2012) and Recommendation 2026 (2013) on the situation in Syria, Resolution 2016 (2014) and Recommendation 2055 (2014) “Threats against humanity posed by the terrorist group known as ‘IS’: violence against Christians and other religious or ethnic communities” and Resolution 2107 (2016) on a stronger European response to the Syrian refugee crisis.

4Since late March 2016, there has been a marked upsurge in the fighting, with indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilian-inhabited areas, particularly through aerial bombardments. Since 21 September 2016, some of the heaviest bombardments are being inflicted on eastern Aleppo by Russian and Syrian forces.

5The Assembly firmly condemns the indiscriminate attacks on civilians, including on medical workers and facilities, blocked humanitarian convoys, enforced disappearances, summary executions and other crimes committed by all parties to the conflict, which have left Syrians in a state of despair, with violence reaching unprecedented levels in Aleppo. It is particularly concerned about the dramatic situation of children in Aleppo, which has not received United Nations humanitarian aid since early July 2016, as many schools and hospitals have been hit (by Russian and Syrian aerial bombardments) and many children are left to die.

6The Assembly notes that the conflict has drawn in numerous rebel groups, opposition figures, terrorist elements, international powers, and religious factions, and has even strengthened Daesh and other jihadist groups, in particular the Al-Nusra Front, now known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.

7The Assembly deeply regrets that the political process has stalled despite intense negotiations, also in the framework of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), several multilateral meetings and international conferences.

8Fully supporting the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Mr Staffan de Mistura, in his efforts to create the conditions for the resumption of intra-Syrian talks, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2254 and 2268 and the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012, the Assembly:

8.1calls for the immediate implementation of the ceasefire agreement of September 2016 and an immediate end by Syrian and Russian forces to all aerial bombardments of Aleppo;

8.2calls on all parties, in particular the Syrian authorities and their allies, to promptly allow unhindered and sustained humanitarian access, including across conflict lines and borders;

8.3condemns all human rights violations and abuses committed by the Syrian regime and its allies, by Daesh and other terrorist groups designated as such by the United Nations, and by any other actor in the conflict, including rebels and opposition groups;

8.4strongly supports the Global Coalition to counter Daesh in Syria and Iraq;

8.5calls for all breaches of international humanitarian law and human rights law, some of which may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity, to be brought to justice, including, as appropriate, before the International Criminal Court;

8.6condemns the use of chemical weapons, which was has been proved by the United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism;

8.7reiterates its message that the Syrian refugee crisis is the responsibility not only of neighbouring States and of Europe but of the international community as a whole;

8.8encourages all States to respond positively to the appeals launched by the relevant agencies of the United Nations, support humanitarian organisations as well as Syria’s neighbouring countries providing assistance to refugees, and provide humanitarian pathways for the admission and resettlement of Syrian refugees;

8.9supports the United Nations Human Rights Council’s decision to request the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic to conduct a special comprehensive, independent inquiry into the events in Aleppo, and identify all those responsible for alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law;

8.10supports the European Union in imposing restrictive measures against Syria targeting Syrian individuals and entities supporting the regime, as long as the repression continues.

9The Assembly fears that the escalation of violence and the magnitude of the crisis could lead to even deeper conflicts in Syria and in the whole region, in particular in Iraq, and represent a threat to worldwide security. It urges the Russian Federation, the United States of America and all parties involved in the conflict to search for a common position and take joint international action.

10Finally, the Assembly stresses that an inclusive Syrian-led political process leading to a genuine political transition must meet the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and enable them independently and democratically to determine their own future, through free and fair elections, after stabilisation has been achieved in the country.

1The Parliamentary Assembly refers to Resolution ... (2016) on the situation in Aleppo, a Syrian city which has become the epicentre of the Syrian war, one of the worst humanitarian crises since the Second World War. The Assembly fears that the escalation of violence and the magnitude of the crisis could lead to even deeper conflicts in Syria and in the whole region, in particular in Iraq, and represent a threat to worldwide security.

2The Assembly reiterates that an inclusive Syrian-led political process leading to a genuine political transition must meet the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and enable them independently and democratically to determine their own future, through free and fair elections, after stabilisation has been achieved in the country.

3Fully supporting the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Mr Staffan de Mistura, in his efforts to create the conditions for the resumption of intra-Syrian talks, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2254 and 2268 and the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012, the Assembly calls on the Committee of Ministers to:

3.1ask the governments of the Council of Europe member States to take action in line with the Assembly’s position, as expressed in paragraph [8] of its Resolution ... (2016);

3.2urge the Russian Federation, the United States of America and all parties involved in the conflict to search for a common position and take joint international action.