UN envoys hear graphic accounts of Syria chemical attacks

Apr 17, 2015

The UN Security Council on Thursday heard graphic first-hand accounts from Syrian doctors of deadly chemical weapons attacks in their country, vowing it will take action against those responsible.

UN - The UN Security Council on Thursday heard graphic first-hand accounts from Syrian doctors of deadly chemical weapons attacks in their country, vowing it will take action against those responsible.

US Ambassador Samantha Power, who said many council members were reduced to tears, told reporters following the closed-door meeting that the Security Council will now seek to identify those behind the attacks and ensure they face justice.

The United States, along with Britain and France, accuse President Bashar al-Assad's regime of using chlorine gas against civilians, but Russia maintains there is no firm evidence that Damascus -- an ally -- is responsible.

"We need an attribution mechanism so we know precisely who carried out these attacks," Power said.

"All the evidence shows that they come from helicopters -- only the Assad regime has helicopters.



The commissioner general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Pierre Krahenbuhl (L) answers AFP journalists' questions during an interview on April 14, 2015 in the Syrian capital Damascus.   AFP PHOTO / LOUAI BESHARA

"But we need to move forward in a manner that also makes it very clear to all council members and that those people responsible for those attacks are held accountable."

The 15 envoys heard a report by Syrian doctor Mohamed Tennari, who treated victims of a chlorine bomb attack on the village of Sarmin, near Idlib last month, that killed six people, including children.

"Our message to the international community is please stop death in Syria," Tennari told a news conference at UN headquarters.

Qusai Zakarya, a Syrian survivor of an August 2013 chemical weapons attack outside Damascus, told the envoys that "this crime was left unpunished" and appealed for justice.

Syrian doctor Saher Sahloul urged the council to set up no fly-zones in Syria to protect civilians from the chemical attacks that they said was being carried out by helicopters.

The doctors said several council members expressed their readiness to ensure the perpetrators are held accountable.

Dying children

Power said council members became "very, very emotional" while watching a video of the doctors struggling to save children who were vomiting and choking.

"If there was a dry eye in the room, I didn't see it," she said.

The global watchdog, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, is carrying out a fact-finding mission in Syria on the use of toxic chemicals during the attacks last month and their report will be key to guiding the council on next steps.

US-based Human Rights Watch has said it investigated six reported attacks in Idlib and villages outside the city, collecting evidence from rescue workers and civilians that provided a compelling case in three of them.

The rights group urged the Security Council to push for a full investigation.

"So far, the Syrian government has paid no price for committing a war crime with banned chemical weapons. Security Council members, including Russia, should promptly ensure a credible investigation to uncover responsibility for the use of toxic chemicals," said HRW's UN director Philippe Bolopion.

A report by the OPCW in January concluded "with a high degree of confidence" that chlorine gas had been used in attacks on three villages in Syria last year.

But the OPCW did not attribute responsibility for the attacks, which killed at least 13 people.

AFP
 

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