ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Syrian representative to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, has urged the Security Council to apply the humanitarian ceasefire deal agreed unanimously on Saturday to the whole of Syria – including Afrin.
“The ceasefire must include the whole of Syria including Afrin,” Jaafari told the chamber.
The ceasefire was originally intended to come into force within 72 hours. This was dropped from the final draft after Russian Ambassador Nebenzia said such a time frame would be unrealistic.
The resolution now says the ceasefire will come into effect “without delay.” The word “immediate” was also dropped, in relation to the delivery of humanitarian aid and evacuations.
The final resolution states that all sides must “cease depriving civilians of food and medicine indispensable to their survival.”
The focus of the draft resolution was on violence in Idlib and Eastern Ghouta, where the Syrian government is heavily shelling rebel-held areas. Because of the al-Qaeda presence in Idlib, Damascus will be able to continue its operations in the region.
There was no specific mention of Afrin, however.
Operation Olive Branch began on January 20 when Turkish forces launched a military incursion into the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in northwest Syria. Turkey believes the ruling Kurdish groups in Rojava, northern Syria are “terrorists,” a charge the groups deny.
The Turkish advance on Afrin has made slow progress. Most of the fighting has been concentrated along the mountainous frontier.
Last updated at 11.50pm
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