Joint statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides on air strikes against UN/Syrian Red Crescent humanitarian aid convoy in Syria

The air strikes against the UN/Syrian Red Crescent humanitarian aid convoy near Aleppo are alarming violations of international humanitarian law. This attack risks setting an unacceptable precedent, jeopardising the safe delivery of humanitarian aid everywhere.

We extend our sincere condolences to the SARC and the families of all humanitarian workers killed while doing their precious, invaluable job. We reiterate our call for the full respect of international humanitarian law by all parties to the Syrian conflict and their obligation to ensure the protection of humanitarian aid workers and civilians at all times.

We call on all parties to the conflict to refrain from any new attack and respect fully the cessation of hostilities. We call in particular on the Syrian government to cease its air campaign against non-terrorist targets in Aleppo, and to allow the immediate and unhindered resumption of humanitarian access to all besieged areas and in particular to the people of Aleppo.

It is critical for the people of Syria that the cessation of hostilities be implemented, respected and prolonged.

As members of the International Syria Support Group the EU calls on the co-chairs, and on all other regional and international actors that are part of the ISSG, to respect and implement the truce and to exert their influence on all parties to the conflict to do the same, committing to a political transition in Syria in accordance with the UNSC resolution 2254.

To this end, the EU is intensifying its work in these days within the ISSG, with the UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, and through its contacts with Syrian parties and regional actors.

STATEMENT/16/3134