UN chief welcomes Security Council statement on Syria

The statement called for unhindered humanitarian access in the war-torn country

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday welcomed a Security Council statement on Syria, which called for unhindered humanitarian access in the war-torn country, Xinhua reported.

"The secretary-general welcomes the presidential statement by the Security Council today that aims to address the horrifying humanitarian situation in Syria and illustrates the commitment of the international community to support the people caught up in the crisis," said a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson.

The UN chief noted that if the commitments and practical steps outlined in the statement are implemented, "humanitarian workers will be able to reach millions of Syrians in desperate need, many of whom have been unreachable for months".

The UN Security Council adopted the statement unanimously Wednesday morning, urging all parties in Syria "to take immediate steps to facilitate the expansion of humanitarian relief operations, and lift bureaucratic impediments and other obstacles".

The statement called on all parties "to take all appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of United Nations personnel, those of its specialised agencies, and all other personnel engaged in humanitarian relief activities".

It also urged "all member states to respond swiftly to the United Nations' humanitarian appeals to meet the spiralling needs of people inside Syria, in particular internally displaced persons, and Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries, and to ensure that all pledges are honoured in full."

The 15-nation body warned that the humanitarian situation will continue to deteriorate in the absence of a political solution to the crisis.

The over-two-year conflict has produced one of the most dramatic exodus of recent years, with an estimated 4.25 million people internally displaced in the battle-weary nation.