Middle East crisis: Live updates as Security Council meets on Syria
December 17, 2024, 12:00 PM
The United Nations Security Council is meeting today to discuss the ongoing crisis in Syria, where a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding as millions of people are displaced and in need of food, water, and shelter.
The meeting comes after a series of airstrikes by the Syrian government and its Russian allies on rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib. The attacks have killed hundreds of civilians and displaced over 1 million people.
The UN estimates that over 3 million people are now living in displacement camps in Idlib, and that the situation is rapidly becoming unsustainable. The camps are overcrowded and unsanitary, and there is a shortage of food, water, and medicine.
The Security Council is expected to discuss a number of options for addressing the crisis, including a ceasefire, a humanitarian corridor, and a political solution to the conflict. However, it is unclear whether the Council will be able to reach a consensus on any of these proposals.
The United States has called for a ceasefire and a humanitarian corridor, but Russia has rejected these proposals, saying that they would only benefit the rebels. Russia has also vetoed a number of resolutions on Syria in the past, making it difficult for the Council to take action.
The meeting of the Security Council is expected to continue throughout the day.
Updates
- 12:30 PM: The Security Council has begun its meeting.
- 1:00 PM: The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, has called for a ceasefire and a humanitarian corridor.
- 1:30 PM: The Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, has rejected the US proposals, saying that they would only benefit the rebels.
- 2:00 PM: The meeting is continuing, and it is unclear whether the Security Council will be able to reach a consensus on any of the proposals.
Background
The Syrian civil war began in 2011, when protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad turned violent. The war has since escalated into a full-blown conflict, with multiple factions fighting for control of the country.
The war has had a devastating impact on Syria. Millions of people have been killed or displaced, and the country’s infrastructure has been destroyed. The war has also created a humanitarian crisis, with millions of people in need of food, water, and shelter.
The international community has been unable to find a solution to the conflict. The UN has brokered a number of ceasefires, but they have all been violated. The US and Russia have also tried to find a political solution, but they have been unable to agree on a plan.
The current crisis in Idlib is the latest in a series of setbacks for the international community’s efforts to end the war in Syria. It is unclear how the Security Council will respond to the crisis, but it is clear that the situation is becoming increasingly desperate.
Middle East crisis: Live updates as Security Council meets on Syria
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