#SyriaCrisis:
UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay condemns the flagrant disregard for
international human rights and humanitarian law – by Government and some
armed groups – that has led to tremendous suffering for civilians in
Aleppo Governorate in Syria: http://sm.ohchr.org/
Syria: Aleppo residents suffering consequences of flagrant disregard for international law – Pillay
GENEVA
(21 May 2014) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on
Wednesday condemned the “flagrant disregard for international human
rights and humanitarian law – both by the Government and by some armed
groups – that has led to tremendous suffering for civilians in Aleppo
Governorate in Syria.”“The people of Aleppo have been living in terrifying
conditions, with intensified shelling and aerial attacks over the past
six months, including through the rampant use of barrel bombs,” the High
Commissioner said. “Adding to this tremendous hardship, the essential
infrastructure of these communities, including their water systems, is
being repeatedly damaged. Water shortages in certain areas of Aleppo
City continue to pose serious health threats to tens of thousands of
people, including in some neighbourhoods in the Old City, where they
reportedly did not have access to potable water for five months.”According to information received by the UN Human Rights
Office, the water grid in Aleppo has had to be repaired dozens of times
in the month of April alone, mostly to fix damage caused by aerial
bombardment and shelling. Some damaged points on the water grid have not
been repaired because of shortage of equipment or spare parts, ongoing
attacks, and the inability to remove large chunks of rubble to access
the damaged areas.Recent reports also indicate that the water supplies in
Aleppo city were deliberately cut by the Jabhat al-Nusra armed group for
several days this month, depriving civilians of access to potable water
and sanitation. While the water supply has been restored in some areas,
other areas continue to suffer from shortages.Pillay warned that international humanitarian law
prohibits attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects
indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. The right to
safe and clean drinking water and sanitation also constitutes a human
right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all other
human rights.“International humanitarian law requires that parties to
the conflict at all times distinguish between civilians, civilian
objects and military objectives,” she said. “Sustained rocket and
barrel-bomb attacks on populated areas of Aleppo are being carried out
in grave violation of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Barrel bombs, when used in populated areas where civilians are still
present, clearly have an indiscriminate impact.”“I urge all parties to the conflict to immediately cease such indiscriminate attacks against civilians,” she added.The fight for Aleppo has also had a devastating effect
on prisoners and detainees in Aleppo’s Central Prison, which has been
besieged by several armed groups since mid-2013.
(21 May 2014) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on
Wednesday condemned the “flagrant disregard for international human
rights and humanitarian law – both by the Government and by some armed
groups – that has led to tremendous suffering for civilians in Aleppo
Governorate in Syria.”
conditions, with intensified shelling and aerial attacks over the past
six months, including through the rampant use of barrel bombs,” the High
Commissioner said. “Adding to this tremendous hardship, the essential
infrastructure of these communities, including their water systems, is
being repeatedly damaged. Water shortages in certain areas of Aleppo
City continue to pose serious health threats to tens of thousands of
people, including in some neighbourhoods in the Old City, where they
reportedly did not have access to potable water for five months.”
Office, the water grid in Aleppo has had to be repaired dozens of times
in the month of April alone, mostly to fix damage caused by aerial
bombardment and shelling. Some damaged points on the water grid have not
been repaired because of shortage of equipment or spare parts, ongoing
attacks, and the inability to remove large chunks of rubble to access
the damaged areas.
Aleppo city were deliberately cut by the Jabhat al-Nusra armed group for
several days this month, depriving civilians of access to potable water
and sanitation. While the water supply has been restored in some areas,
other areas continue to suffer from shortages.
prohibits attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects
indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. The right to
safe and clean drinking water and sanitation also constitutes a human
right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all other
human rights.
the conflict at all times distinguish between civilians, civilian
objects and military objectives,” she said. “Sustained rocket and
barrel-bomb attacks on populated areas of Aleppo are being carried out
in grave violation of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Barrel bombs, when used in populated areas where civilians are still
present, clearly have an indiscriminate impact.”
on prisoners and detainees in Aleppo’s Central Prison, which has been
besieged by several armed groups since mid-2013.
