Al Hussein Decries Resent Resurge Of Attacks In Syria

The United Nations (UN) high commission for human rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein decried the resent resurge of attacks in Syria, particularly in hospitals and said they could amount to war crimes. He also criticized the Security Council for its inaction during the five year long conflict.

Speaking on behalf of the high commissioner, spokesperson Rupert Colville said, “in the context of such an abysmal situation in Syria, there is nothing to compare it to anywhere-else in the world,” adding that “the persistent failure of the Security Council to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court is an example of the most shameful form of realpolitik.”

He said that “in the minds of many people the great powers have therefore in effect, become accomplices to the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of lives and the displacement of millions,” adding that, “it’s a truly horrendous situation and they cannot even put Syria in front of the court to provide some disincentive to people who are committing these horrendous war crimes day after day.”

In a statement, the UN Human Rights Chief expressed concern over recent attacks which left at least 50 people dead, mainly children and doctors.

According to Colville, they were aware of at least two attacks on market places in Idlib province. One strike came meters of killing 50 children aged 6-10 years old in an after school centre. “Literally, meters from killing all of them.” He said, “There are attacks on medical facilities doctors, depleting number of doctors being killed – the only paediatrician left in Aleppo is now dead, a very brave man.”

Colville said, “these are very likely war crimes. Attacking civilian structures, especially hospitals, which are singled out in the Geneva Conventions as special protection. So these are really horrendous crimes and nothing is being done about it.”

Colville pointed out that the Geneva Peace talks and the cessation of hostilities offered some the only hope but the resurgence of violence comes at a critical moment and is an ominous sign.

Talks aimed at ending the five-year war in Syria stalled earlier this week with the government and opposition divided over fundamental issues, including whether President Bashar al-Assad’s political fate even belongs on the agenda.

DESCRIPTION
STORY: GENEVA / SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 29 APRIL 2016 GENEVA
SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot, UN Human Rights Office headquarters, Palais Wilson
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville , Spokesperson, Office for Human Rights, United Nations:
“The High Commissioner for UN human rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is ringing the alarm bells really strongly today because we are seeing the civilians casualties in Syria starting to soar again to the kind of levels we saw before the cessation of hostilities over the past couple of months and attacks on civilian structures, hospitals market places- we are seeing rising casualties in at least six different provinces over the past ten days or so. And total awful disregard for civilian lives that’s typified the civilian conflict but at least diminished somewhat in the last couple of months.”
4. Med shot, spokesperson walking
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville , Spokesperson, Office for Human Rights, United Nations:
“We are aware of for example in Idleb province, at least two attacks on market places. There was one strike that came within meters of killing 50 children aged 6-10 years old in an after- school centre. I mean literally, meters from killing all of them. There is attacks on medical facilities, doctors, depleting number of doctors being killed – the only paediatrician left in Allepo is now dead, a very brave man. These are very likely war crimes. Attacking civilian structures, especially hospitals, which are singled out in the Geneva Conventions for special protection. So these are really horrendous crimes and nothing is being done about it.”
6. Close up
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville , Spokesperson, Office for Human Rights, United Nations:
“In the context of such an abysmal situation in Syria, I mean there’s nothing to compare it to anywhere-else in the world. The persistent failure of the Security Council to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court is an example of the most shameful form of realpolitik. In the minds of many people the great powers have therefore in effect, become accomplices to the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of lives and the displacement of millions. It’s a truly horrendous situation and they cannot even put Syria in front of the court to provide some disincentive to people who are committing these horrendous war crimes day after day.”
8. Med shot, spokesperson walking up steps

DURATION: 02:31