On 6 August, the Security Council adopted a resolution establishing a Joint Investigative Mechanism to identify those responsible for the use of chemical weapons, including chlorine, in Syria. In resolution 2235 (2015), Council members asked the Secretary-General, in coordination with the Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), to submit recommendations within 20 days on the setting up of the joint UN-OPCW operation. The Council also urged all parties in Syria to fully cooperate with the UN and the OPCW, including by granting full access to all locations, individuals and materials in Syria deemed relevant for the investigation.
Secretary-General calls for accountability in use of chemical weapons
In a statement welcoming the adoption of resolution 2235, the Secretary-General stressed the unacceptability of the use of toxic chemicals as weapons and the need for those responsible to be held accountable. Mr. Ban also noted the challenges facing the new mission. “The dangerous security situation inside the country will certainly impact the mission’s activities. Full cooperation from all parties, including the Syrian Government, will be essential”, he said. The Secretary-General expressed his readiness to fully support and implement the mandate provided by the resolution, and he intends to provide recommendations for the implementation of the resolution to the Security Council in due course.
UN food relief agency chief urges more funding for Syrian refugees in Jordan
UN The head of World Food Programme (WFP), Ertharin Cousin, concluded a visit to Jordan on 12 August amid concerns about the deteriorating situation of Syrian refugees. While in Amman, she met Syrian families and heard the hopes and fears of young people. “We are calling upon the donor community to recognize the suffering of our Syrian brothers and sisters and to continue to give generously so we can support desperate families until they can go home,” said Ms. Cousin. “We need those who have given to give more, and those who haven’t given to invest in our work and in the future of Syria.” In recent weeks, WFP has reduced its assistance to nearly half a million Syrian refugees living outside of camps in Jordan, due to a severe lack of funding. The UN food agency needs US$45 million to continue providing this vital food assistance until the end of the year.
WFP prioritizes food distribution for Syrian refugees in Iraq
The World Food Program announced on 6 August that following a comprehensive assessment of the food security of Syrian refugees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the agency will focus its food deliveries on the most vulnerable people. “Our assessments have shown that while some families have the resources to meet their food needs, there are many Syrian families in the Kurdistan region who still need continued assistance,” said Matteo Perrone, WFP Emergency Coordinator for the Syrian refugees operation in Iraq. In August, WFP will channel all available resources to over 48,000 refugees who still require support to meet their food needs. Some 50,000 Syrian refugees who previously received assistance will no longer receive WFP food assistance. The assessments found that 85 percent of Syrian refugees in Iraq have an external source of income as Iraq is the only country in the region where refugees can hold work permits.
Celebrating International Youth Day, Lebanese and Syrian youth launch community initiatives
To mark the International Youth Day on 12 August, Lebanese and Syrian youth presented 15 joint community initiatives at an event in Balbeek, Lebanon. The projects, which range from the rehabilitation of a football field to the setting up of a computer lab, were developed during summer camps at which youth from both communities worked together with local municipalities to foster understanding and reduce tensions. These summer camps are part of a UNICEF project in partnership with the Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST). Ms. Tanya Chapuisat, UNICEF’s representative in Lebanon, noted that the International Youth Day is an opportunity to celebrate the creative forces that young people bring to every society. “This year’s theme ‘youth civic engagement’ emphasizes the importance of including young people in building social cohesion and tolerance within our societies”, she added.
12 August 2015