The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, charged with the maintenance of international peace and security as well as accepting new members to the United Nations and approving any changes to its United Nations Charter.
The UNSC is considering demanding a 30-day ceasefire in Syria to allow the delivery of aid and the evacuation of sick and wounded, diplomats said on Friday, although the measure is likely to be resisted by Russia.
A resolution, drafted by Sweden and Kuwait, was circulated to the 15-member council on Friday. It needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain or France.
The United Nations called on Tuesday for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Syria for at least a month, a call that was backed by the U.S. State Department on Thursday
However, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Thursday: “That’s not realistic. We would like to see a ceasefire, the end of the war in Syria, but the terrorists, I‘m not sure they are in agreement.”
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Syrian ally Russia has cast 11 vetoes on possible Security Council action on Syria since the civil war began in 2011, shielding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
The draft U.N. resolution, also “calls upon all parties to immediately lift the sieges of populated areas, including in Eastern Ghouta, Yarmouk, Foua, and Kefraya.”
Council diplomats were expected to discuss the text on Monday and diplomats said it could quickly come to a vote at the council.
It remained unclear whether Russia would resort to its veto to block the draft resolution proposing the 30-day truce, diplomats said.
The measure would decide “that all parties to the Syrian conflict shall immediately abide by a humanitarian pause and cessation of violence throughout Syria, for a period of 30 consecutive days,” according to the text.
The draft demands that all sides allow medical evacuations 48 hours after the start of the humanitarian pause.
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Convoys carrying food, medicine, and other vital supplies would be authorized to make weekly deliveries to civilians in need, in particular to the 2.9 million Syrians living under siege or in hard-to-reach areas.
UN aid officials accuse the Syrian government of blocking all aid convoys to besieged areas since January.
Sweden and Kuwait, two non-permanent council members, are leading efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Syria at the top UN body.
Diplomacy is making no progress toward ending a war, now approaching its eighth year, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced half the pre-war Syrian population of 23 million from their homes. Millions have been forced out as refugees.
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