We welcome the resolution adopted by the UN Security Council today in response to the worsening humanitarian situation all across Syria, in particular in Eastern Ghouta that demands the cessation of hostilities without delay and calls for a humanitarian ceasefire to become affective at least for 30 days in order to allow access to emergency humanitarian aid and medical evacuations.

From the beginning, Turkey has spared no effort in every platform for the de-escalation and cessation of the conflict in Syria, as well as the establishment of a comprehensive ceasefire and supported the steps taken by the international community to this end. Six observation posts that have been established in the Idlib de-escalation area to date are testament to our efforts.

We have previously expressed our concerns due to the increase in regime’s violations and the worsening humanitarian situation in line with the blockade applied by the regime in civilian areas, and called for an end to these violations in several statements that we have made so far. We raised these concerns also with Russia and Iran, as the guarantors of the regime and underlined that regime’s attacks on civilians and ongoing violation of the ceasefire disrupt our joint efforts in the de-escalation zones.

Uninterrupted access to humanitarian aid is required by international law. The use of starvation as a weapon against civilians is unacceptable. We fully support the call for the full implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 2268 which was also referenced in the resolution adopted today.

Turkey, while continuing to extend humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people to relieve their suffering and support the efforts of the international community, particularly the UN, will at the same time maintain efforts to end the conflict that lies at the core of the humanitarian crisis in Syria and will remain resolute in fighting against the terrorist organizations that threaten the territorial integrity and political unity of Syria.