CDS Welcomes UN Security Council Resolution 2165
July, 16, 2014
Washington, DC - The Coalition for a Democratic Syria (CDS) welcomes Monday’s unanimous passage of United Nations Security Council
Resolution 2165, which authorizes cross-border humanitarian aid into Syria without the consent of the Assad regime. The
resolution serves as an acknowledgment that the Assad regime has used its exclusive control over United Nations aid to
further its “Kneel or Starve” campaign throughout the country.
“We welcome this overdue resolution, which we estimate will allow aid to 1.3 million Syrians long denied humanitarian
assistance by the Assad regime," said Mohammed Ghanem, Policy and Advocacy officer of the Syrian American Council, a CDS
member organization . "However, we must also note that over 10 million Syrians, mostly in opposition areas, are
currently in dire need of humanitarian assistance according to UN humanitarian coordinator Valerie Amos. Since the vast
majority of these civilians will not be impacted, the UN resolution simply does not go far enough."
The Assad government has shown comfort in not complying with Security Council resolutions, as made evident by its
continued restriction of humanitarian access and intensification of barrel bombing campaigns in direct violation of
Security Council Resolution 2139, passed earlier this year. CDS appreciates the helpful statements of U.S. Senator Tim
Kaine (D-VA), who affirmed “if access is denied or there is non-compliance, this resolution affirms that the Security
Council will take further action. The credibility of the Security Council is at stake if the status quo continues.”
On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) also said, “The Assad regime has used humanitarian aid as a weapon of war by
withholding it from its citizens living in opposition held areas. This move is long overdue [...] UN humanitarian
agencies should move quickly to provide relief to besieged and isolated communities.” The resolution further serves as
acknowledgment that the Assad government no longer exercises effective control over much of Syria’s territory along key
borders with Iraq, Jordan, and Turkey, undermining a core element of legitimate governance.
CDS further supports the resolution’s repeated commitment to a political solution to the Syrian conflict in line with
the Geneva Communiqué, which calls for a transition of power from the government of Bashar al Assad and which meets the
legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.
ENDS