By Thomas Murphy
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria – The United Nations Security Council has unanimously approved a presidential statement that urges President Bashar al-Asssad’s Syrian government to allow for easier flow of humanitarian aid. The statement calls for all parties to the conflict to take fighting pauses so that humanitarian convoys can pass through necessary routes.

The presidential statement is legally binding, but a step below a resolution. The statement marks the second time in just a matter of weeks that the Security Council has come to an agreement in regards to Syrian conflict. The unified action follows the passage of a resolution last week to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons, the first significant legal action by the council in two-and-a-half years since the conflict began.

Presently, only twelve humanitarian groups are approved by the Syrian government and they struggle the meet the demands of millions of internally displaced Syrians. The groups have been subject to long delays due to fighting and dozens of government checkpoints that inspect humanitarian deliveries.

The statement urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s authorities to “take immediate steps to facilitate the expansion of humanitarian relief operations, and lift bureaucratic impediments and other obstacles”.

This includes “promptly facilitating safe and unhindered humanitarian access to people in need, through the most effective ways, including across conflict lines and, where appropriate, across borders from neighboring countries”.

U.N. aid chief Valerie Amos stated that upwards of two million people could benefit if the statements recommendations were completely implemented.

“Our task now is to turn these strong words into meaningful action for the children, women and men who continue to be the victims of the brutality and violence,” she told reporters.

The presidential statement was drafted and submitted by Austria and Luxembourg, it was in response to a “wish list” that Amos sent to the council a month ago. Cross border deliveries from Lebanon have already picked up but it is unlikely that the statement it will make a huge difference immediately.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – UN urges immediate aid access to Syria – 28 September 2013

BBC – UN Security Council urges humanitarian access to Syria – 28 September 2013

Huffington Post – Syria Aid Access Desperately Needed, UN Security Council Says –  27 September 2013

Reuters – U.N. Security Council urges easier access for Syria aid – 26 September 2013