Unilateral measures on Syrians amount to war crimes: UN Official

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Unilateral measures imposed on the Syrian people severely affect human rights, impede any efforts of early recovery, and block reconstruction in Syria, a UN official said during a press conference in Damascus.

"The unilateral measures have greatly and badly affected the Syrian pharmaceutical sector, caused a severe shortage, especially with regard to chronic diseases and medical equipment, and also affected the availability of equipment and spare parts needed for the rehabilitation and development of drinking water and irrigation networks, which may cause serious challenges to public health and food security," Alena Douhan, UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, said.

“Talking about goodwill and intentions of the unilateral coercive measures does not justify violation of basic human rights, and the international community must stand together in solidarity and to provide aid to the Syrian people” Douhan added, according to SANA.

Dohan called for “the immediate lifting of these measures” as they “amount to war crimes committed against the Syrian people”.

In March, Syria asked the Human Rights Council to hold "Israel" accountable for its persistent abuses of Syrians' human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan, including intensified settlements and violations, theft of land and natural resources, and demographic change techniques.

Syria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Hussam Eddin Ala stressed that "Israel's" aggressions would not be carried out without the unwavering support of the West and the United States.

Read: Israeli occupation approves settlement plan in occupied Golan

On a different note, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Al-Miqdad accused “Israel” in September of backing Al-Nusra Front and ISIS and attacking civilian airports, as well as ports in Syria, stressing that “continued support of some countries [which sells itself as human rights defenders] for Israel makes them complicit."

In his speech at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 77), Al-Miqdad said, "Israel exercises the most heinous violations in the Syrian-occupied Golan, which include the illegal settlement expansion, demographic change, and stealing the natural resources, not to mention supporting the terrorist organizations and repeatedly attacking Syrian territories.”

“The unlawful presence of foreign forces in Syria must end immediately," he said, adding that "countering terrorism does not mean occupying other people's land, establishing a safe zone, or backing terrorists".

US, Turkish occupation of Syria must end: Syrian Defense Minister

In August, SANA reported that the Minister of Defense, Gen. Ali Mahmoud Abbas, said Syria, with the support of its allies, was advancing steadily on the path of victory over terrorism and the restoration of stability.

During the Moscow Int’l Security Conference, Gen. Abbas added that the conference is of utmost importance to address projects of military expansionism and colonialism.

“The doors of Syria are always open to our allies, while those who threaten our land, history, and our future will find before them a people who refuse humiliation, and will make every necessary sacrifice for the sake of the dignity of their homeland,” Minister Abbas said.

The top Syrian official added, “We call on the international community to exert pressure to lift the unjust coercive measures imposed on Syria by the US and Western regimes.”

According to Abbas, maximum efforts should be exerted to address these aggressive and subversive policies that will only lead to the continuation of chaos and destruction, the spread of terrorism, disasters, and conflicts, and consequently the continued suffering of people who face immeasurable dangers posed by epidemics, food insecurity, and social insecurity which requires setting up effective mechanisms.