Switzerland welcomes the resumption of UN-led consultations in Geneva on resolving the conflict in Syria
Bern, 27.04.2015 - Switzerland calls on all the parties to respect their obligations under international law, and in particular their duty to guarantee the protection of the civilian population. It also supports the efforts of the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to resume consultations in Geneva in May and June 2015 with a view to finding a political solution to the conflict.
The Swiss government is dismayed at the violations of international law and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria and Iraq and reminds all the parties to the conflict that when conducting military operations every practically possible precaution must be taken to prevent lives being lost among the civilian population, civilians being wounded, or civilian property being damaged. It also calls on all the conflicting parties to grant humanitarian aid quick and unhindered access to those in distress.
Moreover, Switzerland condemns the intense and systematic discrimination faced by the religiously and ethnically diverse civilian populations of Syria and Iraq. Currently, for example, the city of Aleppo is divided in two, with one part controlled by government troops, and the other by rebel fighters. Broad swathes of the pluralistic society no longer find their place there and have been driven out by the ongoing hostilities, not least in the aftermath of the heavy fighting in which many civilians have been killed. In this light, Switzerland calls on all the parties to respect their obligations under international law, and in particular to ensure protection for all civilians.
Switzerland is working to alleviate the suffering of all the victims of the Syrian crisis through projects for severely affected population groups and through its humanitarian partners. To this end, in late February 2015, the Federal Council decided on a series of measures to provide support for the victims of the Syrian conflict. In addition to the CHF 128 million already provided since the start of the conflict, another 50 million francs is to be supplied for aid on the ground. Around half of this amount will be used to step up aid for the stricken population in Syria itself, and the rest for the aid effort in neighbouring countries. In addition, Switzerland is helping to support Syrian civil society and to find a political solution for the Syrian conflict.
The Swiss authorities are also sending experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit to assist UN partner organisations, while humanitarian diplomacy and the promotion of international aid coordination form another key strand of the Swiss commitment.
In Iraq, Switzerland was very quick off the mark, taking action after the start of the crisis in early 2014. Since then, it has provided over CHF 17 million in humanitarian assistance through various partner organisations (ICRC, UNHCR, international NGOs), delivered 170 tonnes of winter supplies (1,300 tents, heaters, mattresses, blankets, etc.) and made three SHA experts available to the UN.
Address for enquiries
FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA
Publisher
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html
