Document
04 December 2016
The World Council of Churches’ general secretary urges the immediate cessation of airstrikes and bombardments on Aleppo. The alarming situation of the thousands of civilians trapped in Aleppo amidst the escalating violence is of deep concern to us. Hunger, the threat to life, the destruction of homes, the lack of security and medical care, and the inability for people to access help is forcing communities to endure ever greater suffering.
It is unacceptable that children should become victims in this way. As Churches we call for full respect for the dignity of all human beings created in the image of God. We call on the UN Security Council to put aside whatever political agenda it may have, and actually focus on the safety and security of civilians in Syria. No other interest should have a higher priority than to protect the lives of the thousands of people at stake.
The UN Security Council should prioritize the humanitarian imperative and implement relevant UN resolutions that oblige all parties to the conflict to respect and protect all civilians and civilian infrastructure; allow for safe, immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access; and put an end to brutal sieges of so many areas in Syria.
