Responding to news that Iran, Turkey and Russia will meet in the Russian city of Sochi on Wednesday, while more than 30 Syrian opposition groups hold separate talks in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, Lynn Maalouf, Middle East Research Director at Amnesty International said:
“As the parties to the conflict in Syria meet separately to discuss a roadmap to peace, millions of Syrian men, women and children face horrific suffering due to the violations and crimes perpetrated by all parties to the conflict.
Right now, there are hundreds of thousands of people trapped under siege throughout Syria in unbearable conditions without access to food, water or healthcare.
“We are especially concerned about the situation in Eastern Ghouta, an area in Damascus Countryside, besieged by the Syrian government since 2012. Civilians there have been subjected to war crimes for years, but now the government has further tightened the siege and escalated its attacks on civilians and civilian objects. This coercive military strategy consisting of prolonged sieges and bombardment is used as a tactic by the government and its allies to pressure armed groups to negotiate a deal to surrender. However, as in the case of Daraya, al-Waer and eastern Aleppo city, such tactics entailed unlawful killings, starvation of civilians, and ultimately the forced displacement of civilians.
“All parties to the conflict must immediately lift all sieges of civilian areas throughout Syria and allow unimpeded access to impartial humanitarian relief for those in need. Russia, Iran and Turkey must ensure that agreements between parties to the conflict do not involve unlawful forced displacement.
“Unless human rights and accountability are put at the heart of the peace talks a just and sustainable peace in Syria will remain elusive. It is crucial that countries with influence over the parties to the conflict help ensure that victims receive full reparation, and work towards fulfilling the right of the displaced to voluntary return in safety and dignity.”
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For media inquiries, contact: Jacob Kuehn, Media Relations at (613) 744-7667 ext 236 or jkuehn@amnesty.ca
