Spain, New Zealand and Jordon, the 'penholders' of the Syria humanitarian segment of the Security Council, are striving to define the lines of action and strategies to be followed so that the Security Council's actions can have a real impact on the humanitarian aspects of the conflict in Syria.
In contact and close coordination with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the three 'penholders' have established three lines of action:
- Protection of access to areas under siege and distribution of medical and surgical material
- Monitoring of Security Council authorisations for cross-border assistance
- Refugee crisis and support for countries in the region
The 'penholders' are also working to identify the appropriate forums to offer the opportunity, in the months to come, to help promote a coordinated reaction from the international community. In parallel, a proposal exists to carry out actions to explain to the members of the Security Council and raise awareness on the urgency of the humanitarian issue in Syria, in close contact with United Nations agencies and civil society.
Within the framework of these efforts and against a backdrop of the fourth anniversary of the start of the conflict in Syria, Spain's Permanent Mission to the United Nations called a meeting of experts on 13 March, co-chaired by Spain and New Zealand, between members of the Security Council and representatives of EU Member States with the aim of exchanging ideas on humanitarian aspects of the Syrian conflict.
With the aim of those attending the meeting receiving information from experts with first-hand knowledge of the impact of the conflict in Syria on the health sector, doctors and members of the Syrian American Medical Society, the United Medical Office of Eastern Ghouta suburbs of Damascus, and Physicians for Human Rights were invited to attend.
