Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development

Sous-comité des droits internationaux de la personne du Comité permanent des affaires étrangères et du développement international

For immediate release

Ottawa, June 27, 2019 -

Civil society organizations have alerted the international community to ongoing indiscriminate bombings by the Syrian-Russian military alliance on medical facilities, schools, and civilian residences in the Province of Idlib in north-western Syria. The United Nations has warned that confrontation between government and rebel groups in this last opposition-held stronghold of the eight-year war will lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. An estimated 2.5 million people live in the greater Idlib area, many of whom have already been displaced from other parts of Syria since the beginning of the war.

Seeking an update on the situation since its last meeting on Syria in March 2018, the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (the Subcommittee) heard the testimony of Dr. Anas Al-Kassem, from the Union of Medical Relief Organizations-Canada and Miles Windsor, Advocacy and Development Manager at Middle East Concern on June 13th, 2019.

Theses witnesses described the frustration and despair of both the population of Idlib and the humanitarian organizations working to protect them. The numbers speak for themselves. The Subcommittee heard that over 24 medical facilities were deliberately targeted in recent months. At least 40 other medical facilities have suspended their work amidst fears that they too would be targeted. The need for medical assistance is made more critical given indiscriminate bombings and the use of chemical weapons against civilians. The shelling of towns and villages in northern Hama and southern Idlib has displaced 425,000 individuals, many of whom are trying to reach the Turkish border. Humanitarian organizations struggle to assist the displaced due to lack of medical supplies and shelters. Dr. Al-Kassem stated that humanitarian workers on the ground have lost trust in the international community and no longer know who to turn to for help. He called on leaders of the Istanbul Summit – notably from France, Germany, Russia and Turkey – to uphold their commitment to maintain a ceasefire in Idlib.

The Subcommittee once again calls for an immediate end to violations of international humanitarian law. Humanitarian access should be maintained through Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. To spare innocent lives, the Subcommittee calls on the Government of Canada and the international community to provide protection and concrete support for humanitarian workers, particularly for medical facilities and mobile clinics.

QUOTES

“From the use of chemical weapons, to sieges, to the bombing of hospitals, the Syrian conflict has been characterized by brazen violations of international humanitarian law. We cannot allow innocent people in Idlib to suffer from more of the same. Violations of humanitarian law must stop immediately and the perpetrators of these crimes must face true accountability.”

-Anita Vandenbeld, M.P., Chair

“People that have been displaced multiple times – with only the clothes on their backs – trying to get to safety continue to see their homes, schools and hospitals bombed. It is imperative that these attacks be halted immediately, and that humanitarian assistance be maintained through Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.”

-David Sweet, M.P., Vice-Chair

The suffering of the Syrian people is beyond words, yet that should not keep the international community from speaking out. We must not lose sight of the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria. Canada must continue to strongly condemn the targeting of medical facilities, indiscriminate bombings, and all violations of international humanitarian law.”

-Cheryl Hardcastle, M.P., Vice-Chair