Hanoi (VNA) – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) met in New Yorkon January 29 to discuss the humanitarian situation in Syria, under the chairof Vietnam that holds the council’s presidency in January.

Accordingto Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, as from thebeginning of December 2019, the humanitarian situation in northwest Syria hasworsened due to escalating violence.

About80 innocent civilians were killed, hundreds were injured and more than 350,000have fled, mostly women and children. Many schools and hospitals were bombedand some major traffic routes were closed.

Relevantsides have not observed the cease-fire agreement signed on January 12, 2020,and hampered humanitarian aid, he said.

Meanwhile,in northeast Syria, 1.8 million people, including 150,000 refugees, are in needof humanitarian assistance.

Giventhis, humanitarian organisations are working hard to provide aid for localneedy people, Lowcok stressed.

MostUNSC member countries have expressed concern over the humanitarian situation innorthwest Syria and called on the parties to respect the cease-fire agreementinked in Idlib, fulfill the duty of protecting innocent civilians and civilestablishments in line with international law, facilitate UN humanitarian activitiesand step up negotiation efforts to push ahead with the political process on thebasis of the council’s Resolution 2254.

Theyalso applauded the UN and relevant partners for their humanitarian assistance.

Inhis remarks, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese permanent missionto the UN, also expressed his concern over the complex development of thehumanitarian situation in Syria.

Hesuggested humanitarian aid focus on those who are in emergency situation, and calledfor support for the political progress, reconciliation and reconstruction inSyria, saying humanitarian activities should be carried out on the basis of respectfor sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria.

Vietnamhopes that the parties will hold dialogue and negotiations in a constructivemanner in order to deal with conflicts peacefully, in accordance withinternational law, including the UNSC’s related resolutions, he said.

Themeeting is one of the council’s three major monthly activities regarding Syria.Apart from the humanitarian issue, the council has looked into the politicalprocess and the use of chemical weapons in Syria./.