The German government has once again condemned the Syrian regime’s massive attacks on Eastern Ghouta. This is a violation of the ceasefire called for by the UN Security Council, said federal government spokesperson Steffen Seibert. There must not be another full-scale expulsion of entire sections of the population, he said.
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Although the German government welcomes the fact that sporadic relief supplies have reached parts of the besieged areas and that some medical evacuations have taken place, it is impossible to say at present whether or not the people will face repression wherever they flee to, said government spokesperson Steffen Seibert.
"We still strongly condemn the continued massive attacks on the people who are trapped in the area, carried out by the Syrian regime with Russian support, in violation of the ceasefire demanded by the UN Security Council," said the government spokesperson.
Naturally the shelling of residential areas and diplomatic facilities in Damascus from the rebel-controlled area must also be condemned. "But shelling of this sort and the presence of a small group of terrorists can never justify the Russian and Syrian attacks on civilians, and on civilian and medical infrastructure," declared Steffen Seibert.
The German government is thus again calling for an immediate ceasefire and demanding that humanitarian aid services be given access to the suffering people at their home. "What we don’t want to see is an evacuation which is nothing other than a mass expulsion of entire sections of the population, behind which must be seen a certain strategy of the regime – that must not be repeated here," he stressed.
As the Federal Foreign Office spokesperson underscored, there are also serious concerns about Turkey’s actions in Afrin, in particular in terms of protecting the civilian population and ensuring access for humanitarian assistance. The German government is waiting for Turkey to respond to these concerns.
On one hand, the situation must be assessed in terms of Turkey’s right to defend itself. In this case all of Turkey’s activities in Syria must take place within the limits of what is necessary and proportionate. On the other, international humanitarian law must always be respected. On this point all international partners agree.
That is why all together support the demand of the United Nations Security Council that a 30-day ceasefire be respected in Syria, in order to end all hostilities and return to a political process.