SDF responds to UN call for humanitarian truce in Syria

North-Press Agency

In a statement yesterday, Tuesday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced their commitment to support the global efforts to combat the coronavirus epidemic, as well as their response to the call of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The SDF statement noted the threat posed by the coronavirus and its classification as a global epidemic after the intensification of the worldwide outbreak, which put all healthcare systems in the world under unprecedented scrutiny and pressure.

The statement indicated that because of the deterioration of health facilities in Syria due to the war, “any renewal of hostilities will create waves of displacement that will affect the remaining health infrastructure, thus accelerating the outbreak of the virus and increasing its lethality.”

For its part, the SDF announced “the commitment to the principle of the right of self-defense and the avoidance of any hostilities,” calling “all Syrian parties in conflict to avoid any military initiatives or actions, and to immediately commit to a humanitarian truce.”

The SDF General Command also asserted its commitment regarding the accessibility of regions under its control to local and international healthcare workers.

On Tuesday, UN envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen called for a ceasefire in Syria on the national level and the unification of efforts to combat the COVID-19 virus.

On Monday, Antonio Guterres urged all forces involved in armed conflicts worldwide to commit to a ceasefire and to face the common enemy that is coronavirus, pointing out that “health care systems in countries devastated by war are in a collapsed state.”