This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/24/world/middleeast/un-security-council-syria.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
U.N. Security Council Votes in Favor of Syria Cease-Fire After Week of Bloodshed U.N. Security Council Votes in Favor of Syria Cease-Fire After Week of Bloodshed
(about 1 hour later)
The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday in favor of a 30-day cease-fire in Syria, after days of bombardment by the Syrian government on a Damascus suburb left hundreds of civilians dead.The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday in favor of a 30-day cease-fire in Syria, after days of bombardment by the Syrian government on a Damascus suburb left hundreds of civilians dead.
The pause in fighting would allow humanitarian aid to reach the besieged suburb of eastern Ghouta, and allow civilians to be evacuated. The resolution called for all parties to “cease hostilities without delay” across the country to enable the “safe, unimpeded and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and services and medical evacuations of the critically sick and wounded.”
The resolution called for all parties to “cease hostilities without delay” for at least a 30 days to enable the “safe, unimpeded and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and services and medical evacuations of the critically sick and wounded.”” The pause in fighting for at least 30 days means humanitarian aid can reach the besieged suburb of eastern Ghouta, and allow civilians there to be evacuated.
More than 500 people, including women and children, have been killed this week in the intensifying strikes against the rebel-held area of eastern Ghouta, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.More than 500 people, including women and children, have been killed this week in the intensifying strikes against the rebel-held area of eastern Ghouta, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Olof Skoog, Sweden’s Ambassador to the United Nations, who introduced the resolution along with the Kuwaiti Ambassador, said the resolution could “de-escalate suffering” and save lives.
“The U.N. convoys and evacuation teams are ready to go,” he said.
The geographic scope of the cease-fire covers the conflict across Syria, except where military operations are underway against the Islamic State, the Nusra front, Al Qaeda affiliated groups, and any other groups designated as terrorist organizations, according to the Security Council.
Mr. Skoog emphasized that it was “not a comprehensive peace deal on Syria. Its aim is purely humanitarian.”
The vote came after the Security Council resolution had stalled for days as Russia — the main ally of President Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian government — argued for amendments to the draft resolution and blocked a vote.The vote came after the Security Council resolution had stalled for days as Russia — the main ally of President Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian government — argued for amendments to the draft resolution and blocked a vote.
On Friday, Nikki R. Haley, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, lashed out at the Russians for the initial delay in the vote and urged diplomats to come to a resolution. Speaking shortly after the vote, Nikki R. Haley, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, applauded the unanimous decision by the Security Council while denouncing Russia’s delays.
Before the vote, when asked if Russia had agreed to the resolution, Ms. Haley told reporters, “Today we’re going to see if Russia has a conscience.” “There’s no good reason we shouldn’t have done this Wednesday or Thursday or Friday,” Ms. Haley said, saying the delay had hurt the civilians caught up in the conflict. “We all failed them this week. I guess there is unity in that.”
For those living in eastern Ghouta, an area that has been consistently targeted by the Syrian government since 2012, conditions have grown desperate. Thousands of residents have taken shelter in basements and makeshift underground bunkers to protect themselves from the relentless bombardment. On Friday night, she publicly lashed out at the Russians for the initial delay in the vote and urged diplomats to come to a resolution.
In a Twitter post, she wrote that it was “unbelievable” that Russia was stalling. “How many more people will die before The Security Council agrees to take up this vote?”
After the vote, Ms. Haley expressed hope that the resolution could “be a turning point” for Council unity. “All of us must do everything we can to make the demands of this resolution a reality, it’s the only way to restore the credibility of this Council,” she said.
Russia was quick to defend its decision to delay the vote. In his address to the Council, Vasily A. Nebenzya, the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, said that immediate implementation of an earlier version of the resolution was “not feasible,” as parties on the ground needed to make a concrete commitment to the pause in hostilities.
“This kind of an unrealistic approach will do nothing to address the issues,” Mr. Nebenzya said, before mentioning that the United States should focus on fighting terrorism in the region “instead of scaling up rhetoric against Russia.”
Those living in eastern Ghouta, an area that has been consistently targeted by the Syrian government since 2012, describe conditions that have grown desperate. Thousands of residents have taken shelter in basements and makeshift underground bunkers to protect themselves from the relentless bombardment.
The United Nations Refugee Agency and Save the Children, which both partner with local humanitarian groups in eastern Ghouta, estimate that upward of 350,000 civilians still live in the affected area.The United Nations Refugee Agency and Save the Children, which both partner with local humanitarian groups in eastern Ghouta, estimate that upward of 350,000 civilians still live in the affected area.
Residents of the rebel-held enclave described harrowing scenes throughout the week; even as the United Nations debated the cease-fire conditions early Saturday, the bombardment continued.Residents of the rebel-held enclave described harrowing scenes throughout the week; even as the United Nations debated the cease-fire conditions early Saturday, the bombardment continued.
Nour Adam, a media activist based in eastern Ghouta, described continuous shelling and airstrikes when reached by WhatsApp on Saturday, before the Security Council vote. Nour Adam, a media activist based in eastern Ghouta, described continuous shelling and airstrikes when reached on WhatsApp on Saturday, before the Security Council vote.
“It’s like the end of humanity, it’s like hell on earth,” he said. “In eastern Ghouta right now, nowhere is safe because the warplanes target the shelters and the missile target the neighborhood, I mean what kind of life is that? The people here are scared to death.” “It’s like the end of humanity, it’s like hell on earth,” he said. “In eastern Ghouta right now, nowhere is safe because the warplanes target the shelters and the missiles target the neighborhood, I mean what kind of life is that? The people here are scared to death.”
Mr. Adam said he hoped that a cease-fire agreement would allow for food and medical supplies to be brought into the area.Mr. Adam said he hoped that a cease-fire agreement would allow for food and medical supplies to be brought into the area.
Still, he said: “If they agree for one month in eastern Ghouta, after that one month, what? Will they return and target the town and kill more people?”Still, he said: “If they agree for one month in eastern Ghouta, after that one month, what? Will they return and target the town and kill more people?”