Brasília – This Thursday (14th), the Arab League has called on the United Nations Security Council to impose a mandatory ceasefire on all parties involved in the Syrian conflict. The request is included in a report on the status of Syrian refugees handed out by the League’s secretary-general Nabil Al Arabi to the Arab ministers of health convened in Cairo, Egypt.
The text asks of the Security Council that it intervenes sternly in Syria, according to the instruments available to it as per Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Chapter VII provides that the UN is to “take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security,” including military intervention.
The truces discussed by international mediators during the conflict have been broken by both the government troops and the rebel forces.
The Arab League report also calls on the international community to take responsibility and step up the aid to Syrian refugees, who amount to over 1 million, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
At the meeting in Cairo, the Arab League also noted that Syria’s neighbouring countries, the Arab League-affiliated Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq need financial aid in order to assist the refugees.
In order to help the countries that touch borders with Syria, the Arab ministers of health have decided to donate US$ 800,000 for emergency medical assistance to refugees.
Next Friday (15th), the Syrian conflict will enter its third year. Over 70,000 people have died.
*With information from Agência Lusa. Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
