Letter dated 2 August 2017 from the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council
I have the honour to transmit to you a letter dated 2 August 2017 from the President of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (see annex).
I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annex circulated to the members of the Security Council as a document of the Council. (Signed) Abdallah Y. Al-Mouallimi Permanent Representative
Annex to the letter dated 2 August 2017 from the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council
The National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces stresses the importance of the safe passage of the estimated 9,000 Syrian refugees being evacuated from Arsal, Lebanon, and calls for increasing humanitarian aid in central Qalamoun and Idlib to respond to the heightened needs of the displaced following their transport.
The estimated 9,000 Syrian refugees, who are being evacuated by Lebanese Hezbollah and accompanied by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, have experienced recurrent displacement in Syria and Lebanon. The Syrian regime, Lebanese Hezbollah and non-State actors have regularly endangered the refugees’ protection by means of targeted and indiscriminate violence, forcing their displacement within Syria and into Lebanon. As a result of repeatedly fleeing violence in search of protection, the refugees have lost almost everything. Most of the 9,000 refugees who fled Syria left all of their belongings behind and are in dire need of water, food, shelter and medical attention.
Therefore, the National Coalition is calling for increasing support to humanitarian actors on the ground to respond to the urgent needs of the estimated 9,000 displaced refugees upon their arrival in central Qalamoun and Idlib. The Coalition is concerned about the insufficient humanitarian assistance available in central Qalamoun and Idlib to meet the heightened needs of the displaced and existing populations. With nothing in hand, the displaced population is dependent on the availability of humanitarian relief for its survival.
The National Coalition previously expressed concern about the lack of protection or access to humanitarian aid for Syrian refugees residing in Arsal, Lebanon. This population has experienced regular arbitrary arrests, detention and violent attacks by the Syrian regime and aligned forces. Further, reports from the ground indicate that the population has been deprived of access to basic services.
(Signed) Riad Seif
President
National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces