UN urges immediate humanitarian access to Syria

Without urgent increased humanitarian action, the council warned, the lives of several million Syrians “will be at risk.”

The statement condemns all violence in Syria and increased terrorist attacks by organizations and individuals linked to al-Qaida as well as “the widespread violations of human rights.” It stresses the obligation under international law to distinguish between civilians and combatants and the prohibition against “indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks” against civilians and the prohibition against using chemical weapons.

Australian Ambassador Gary Quinlan, who drafted the statement with Luxembourg envoy Sylvie Lucas, said they decided to move rapidly to address the humanitarian crisis after Friday's adoption of the chemical weapons resolution.

Quinlan praised the council's “strong, unified ... unanimous message to all parties in Syria.”