Live Urgent Question: Syria Business Questions

stronger Welsh Assembly and as a consequence we believe all lembers

should be involved in that discussion. Not here. Urgent

question, Diana Johnson. Thank you Mr Speaker. I want to ask

the Foreign Secretary to make a statement on the Syria support group

plans to make airdrops to bdsieged areas in Syria.

Mr Speaker, I have been askdd to reply. My right honourable friend

the Foreign Secretary is giving evidence to the intelligencd and

Security committee of this house this morning. My honourable friend

the Minister for the middle east is travelling abroad or ministdrial

business. The Government's objective remains a political settlemdnt,

which allows Syria to becomd a peaceful state with an incltsive

government, with which we c`n look to work to tackle extremists. It is

only when this happens that we will see stability returned to the region

and the flow of people fleehng Syria and seeking refuge in Europd stop.

To achieve that goal we need to get political negotiations betwden

Syrian parties back on track. The international Syria support group

has made clear in order to create the best environment for talks to

succeed, there needs to be both a comprehensive cessation of

hostilities leading to a full ceasefire, and sustained, unfettered

access for humanitarian aid. Talks are now paused because progress on

both those tracks has been insufficient. That is why wd are

pressing hard for an end to the current violations of the cdssation

of hostilities, the majoritx which are down to the Assad regimd. That

is also why we need to see `n improvement in humanitarian access

to both besieged and hard to reach areas inside Syria. Both of these

points were agreed by all mdmbers of the international Syria support

group in Munich in February this year. But in light of the continuing

dire humanitarian picture, `t the meeting at Vienna in May, the

Foreign Secretary proposed humanitarian airdrops by thd world

food programme to besieged `reas in Syria, if access could not be

achieved by road to the beghnning of June. That deadline, of course, has

now passed. We welcome the `rrival of some limited aid over thd last

few days in specific areas, and we know the Syrian government has

agreed, in principle, to allow land access by the United Nations to the

majority of areas requested for the month of June. Such progress that

we've seen is undoubtedly the result of international pressure, hncluding

from the possibility of airdrops, but we believe it is crucial now

that the ISG should hold thd Assad regime to account delivery of those

commitments. The Kingdom officials are meeting with their ISG

counterparts and also with TN officials in Geneva today, to

continue that work and the TN itself is pressing the Assad regimd to

allow airdrops if access by road is not permitted. We remain cldar

airdrops are a last resort. Land access is more effective, more

efficient and safe, both for those the aid and for those delivdring it.

The UN has plans in place to begin airdrops of they are needed, but it

is clear in an environment hs dangerous Syria this is not ideal.

We will continue to support the UN in their efforts but if we `re not

allowed to land access for those aid drops, the ISG should consider

carefully what further steps might be taken to deliver the aid that is

so desperately needed. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Thank you for

granting this urgent question this morning to stop as the Minister has

pointed out, this is a very clear humanitarian issue. Therefore our

582,000 people living in besieged areas in Syria. The conditions for

the men, women and children in these areas are beyond what many of us can

comprehend and in the words of the UK's envoy to the UN is a concept

from medieval times, starvation as a weapon of war and purposely

withholding life-saving medhcines and yet this is what the Assad

regime is doing. As the Minhster confirmed, the British Forehgn

Secretary gave the deadline for this to stop and that deadline expired a

week ago. Since then, as thd minister said, aid has reached a few

areas but this aid is not always included food, and we know children

are still starving. The Fordign Secretary said the internathonal

Syria support groups would commence airdrops on to stop and that

deadline expired a week ago. Since then, as the Minister said, aid has

reached a few areas but this aid is not always included food, and we

know children are still starving. The Foreign Secretary said the

international Syria support groups would commence airdrops into

besieged areas if aid was not allowed in by the 1st of June. He

also argued that had the support of Iran and Russia and indicatdd their

support would be sufficient for airdrops to commence. Yesterday the

UN were briefing they had m`de a request to the Syrian government to

commence airlifts, not airdrops It seems airlifts and airdrops are

subject to the whim of the @ssad regime. The Foreign Secretary made a

promise to the people in thd besieged areas and sent a clear

message to the Assad regime. As it appears the humanitarian situation

seems to be bleak and the position of Assad now seems to be

strengthened, click the minhster answer these four questions. The

current proposals appear to be the airlifts to be led by the world food

programme and with the consdnt of the Assad regime. Can you confirm if

there is a timetable for thhs actually happen, and if there isn't

a consent from the Assad regime what will happen next? What happens

if the Syrian government to refuse that position to happen, and

thirdly, is the reason airdrops have not occurred because of the position

of Iran and Russia? Did the Foreign Secretary over state their position

on the 24th of May, or have they subsequently changed their position?

What indications does the Mhnister think the ISS G to agree to airdrops

has for the Syrian peace process? On the Lady's last point, there is

no question that the appallhng humanitarian situation inside Syria

may any hope of trying to rdbuild a modicum of trust that might lead to

political progress more difficult still than it already is. I agree

with her description of what's going on on the ground inside Syrha and

the attitude taken by the Assad regime. I don't think anyond should

be under any illusions they are deliberately using... The ddnial of

access to humanitarian aid `s a political and military weapon. I

think it is important that ht is the United Nations, which is accepted by

all as impartial and peaceftl in intent, should be in the le`d, both

in the talks with the regimd and in the delivery of humanitarian

assistance, given the naturd of the military conflict inside Syria,

given the nature of the air defences, both Syrian and Rtssian,

that are available. The best outcome would be agreed terms of access

either over or by air, for world food programme assistance to go in.

That is what was agreed and what is happening with regard to an area

that is being besieged by D`esh forces in one part of Syria. And

that would be better than other powers trying to intervene. But as I

said earlier, if the Assad regime does not deliver on its comlitments,

then I think the ISSG will have to return to this, we'll have to take

stock during today's meeting in Geneva as to how far those talks

between the UN and the Assad regime have taken us and what the chances

now are. Iran and Russia made these commitments earlier on this year, to

support the delivery of hum`nitarian aid to those people who are in need.

They are the powers that have the influence over Bashar al-Assad and

his regime. It is their responsibility to use that hnfluence

to save the lives of those people who are in such desperate nded of

assistance. I intend to run the exchangds on

this question until 11 o'clock but not beyond. I know colleaguds will

take their cue from that advice The Minister is quite right that

Russia is the key to this. Only Russia can persuade the Ass`d regime

to acquiesce. What steps is he taking, or are they taking together

to put pressure on Russia to do just that? Russia is the key plaxer in

terms of influence over Ass`d and Russia is the key sponsor of Syria's

military capability. We use every opportunity, both within thd ISSG,

where Russia is a full membdr, and in other diplomatic exchangds with

Russia, both official and ministerial level, to emphasise the

importance of Russia delivering on the commitments she has madd.

There are some towns in Syrha that have not received aid since 201 and

we have a moral responsibilhty to protect civilians who are stffering

the effects of this. No expdnse has been spared in dropping high-tech

missiles, UK high-tech misshles on the country, but it is bread and not

bombs that the people in Syria need at this time. It is incumbent on us

to make that happen. Can I `sk the Minister Y eight days have passed

since the UN deadline with no tangible action customer can I ask

the Minister, is it really the case we are asking for permission from

Assad to feed the very people he himself has starved? Administer of

course, will be aware that malnourished and sick children need

specialist care which cannot be provided by airdrops. Can I ask what

action the Government is taking to re-establish road access to these

very desperate people? It is the United Nations th`t is

talking to the Assad regime about getting access. It is the United

Nations that has the good offices to make those approaches and the United

Nations which is in charge of delivering the humanitarian

assistance. That is the way forward, that we judge at the moment is most

likely to lead to a successful outcome, and one that is safe, both

for those receiving the aid and those delivering it. There `re some

parts of Syria where high-ldvel airdrops, if you could not get

overland access, might be of help. But high-level airdrops of

humanitarian assistance are not a precise way of giving help. There

are other parts of Syria whdre the nature of the conflict, or the

densely populated, urban ch`racter of the communities we are trying to

help, mean that you would h`ve to bring in helicopters and not rely on

high-level airdrops at all. That again emphasises the complexity of

this task and why, for all hts imperfections, the best outcome

would be if the UN can secure access, agreed by the regimd for

either overland or failing that are airborne assistance.

What material support is thd United Kingdom giving at the moment to the

United Nations, improper aeration for, as we hope, access being

granted? -- in that preparation As my honourable friend knows we

committed very large sums, ?2.3 million of humanitarian aid

assistance to help the crishs in Syria and its neighbouring

countries. We are ready to provide additional support, if the TN wants

that from us, for an expanddd airdrop operation to the besieged

areas. Mr Speaker, the homely -- the holy

month of Ramadan began on Monday, as the Minister knows. There are

millions of Syrian refugees in the countries immediately adjoining

Syria. Could he confirm that our humanitarian efforts are continuing

so that these people are helped where they are, rather than having

to make the perilous journex to the Greek and Turkish border? I agree

with the right honourable gdntleman about the importance of this. After

all, the reason why large ntmbers of people moved from the camps across

the Aegean last summer was that the UN was not getting them sufficient

funds to maintain food rations or hours of schooling at the previously

agreed levels. We are certahnly committed and we also are pressing

all countries and international organisations who committed

themselves to spend more at the recent London conference on Syria to

deliver fully and promptly on those pledges. I would also say in respect

of Ramadan, we welcome the opposition's high negotiation

committee that there should be a Ramadan trees inside Syria. We hope

this might be an opportunitx to stop further bloodshed. It's depressing

to against the starvation bding used as a weapon of war, particularly

when one man, President Puthn, could make one phone call to his friend

President Assad to remove m`ny other barriers to international ahd.

Assuming that we get the abhlity to deliver international aid, have we

offered use of British military bases to allow that deliverx to

quickly take place, in parthcular from Cyprus? We have not bedn asked

to provide that kind of asshstance to the United Nations. Obviously any

request that we might get from the United Nations we would consider

seriously and sympathetically but my understanding is that the UN's

preference would be to use civilian airports because I think th`t would

emphasise to all parties thd humanitarian rather than political

nature of the flights. Bash`r al-Assad's father-in-law lives in

London. He is a retired doctor. In the past he used to boast, `nd

boasted to me, that he has considerable influence over his

son-in-law. Now I wonder if anybody in the Foreign Office has actually

met with Bashar al-Assad's father-in-law, because that might be

one additional approach that we could try? I don't know whether

there has been a recent conversation with Assad's father-in-law but I

will make sure that that pohnt is noted in the Foreign Office and

perhaps write to the honour`ble lady. Mr Speaker, the UN sahd on

Thursday that helicopters would have to be used for a bridge is for 5 of

the 19 besieged areas because they are densely populated. In rdality,

the UN working with the world food programme would use helicopters

which need permission to land. Does my honourable friend agree with me

that we use these diplomatic channels to urge Russia to `sk and

insist that Syria does open up these channels? I agree wholeheartedly

with what my honourable fridnd has said and I think that this hs a

really important test of Russia s professed commitment, both to the

United Nations and its humanitarian aid work and to its professdd

commitment to a political solution in Syria? If Assad and Russha's

shameful blocking of aid by air and land continues, will be Govdrnment

redouble our effort to ensure that Assad is eventually bought to -

brought to justice to face crimes against humanity? I think the first

thing must be to secure alp for those who are in desperate need and

then we need to achieve a political settlement in Syria. When wd have

that in place, I think therd will indeed need to be a time whdn

individuals who are responshble for the most appalling crimes c`n be

held to account. The point hs that my right honourable friend lakes a

very important. I am very pleased that I am agreeing with everything

he says, not something that I usually do of late when he's at the

dispatch box. But would he join me in praising the work of our former

colleague Stephen O'Brien who is now the United Nations emergencx relief

coordinator of this area? I am very happy to do so. He was a good friend

of mine when he was a member of this House and he had, while he served

it, a very sincere enduring commitment to because of

international do well and and humanitarian assistance and he is

showing real dynamism and ldadership in his work, half of the UN now The

opposition is right to raisd the humanitarian nightmare of this

situation but is the Governlent absolutely right to proceed with the

greatest caution in a situation with holy unpredictable consequences and

particularly in rejecting -, rejected a facile solutions of

military interventions even when they operate by a past by Mhnister

with a record of shooting fhrst and thinking later? I think in terms of

the leading question that h`s been asked today, the key objecthve must

surely be to find the means by which we can get humanitarian aid to those

who need it as quickly and `s effectively as can possibly be

achieved. I hope we can all agree on that point. The question has already

been raised with respect to what Russia can do. Can the Minister give

us any examples of what Russia may have done so far that would give us

any positive news that the Russians may be about to change their

approach? I'd like to be able to be more encouraging in my response but

the Russian approach so far has been, frankly, disappointing. We

have seen access allowed to the United Nations to help people who

are being besieged by Daesh forces, but the people there are people who

are loyal to the Assad regile and so the Russians and the regime have

been happy to allow that humanitarian assistance. It is a

real test now of Russia's intentions as to whether they are going to

bring the pressure to bear that they could bring to bear on Assad to act

before those people suffer further. The Minister has confessed that

children are dying for want of food and medicine. Could we concdntrate

on yes, the Prime Minister of the alighted nations -- the Minnesota --

the primacy of the United N`tions's role but also the wonderful people

at Medecins Sans Frontieres who have wonderful expertise in this area. Is

he consulting with them regtlarly? We are in regular contact whth those

organisations, as indeed thd United Nations, which has long-standing

relationships with all the international NGOs. As the

honourable gentleman will know, a large proportion of the British

Government's eight assistance to humanitarian causes in Syri` and the

surrounding areas is channelled reorganisation T has listed. The

text complexity that the Minister has referred to and the UN dfforts

currently are certainly unddrstood by Syrian refugees who I met in my

own constituency, who explahned their dire plight to me, but my

question is why can we not resolved to supply the means of life whenever

we have shown that we can stpply the means of death? One has to take into

account the military situathon on the ground. We are talking `bout the

regime in Syria that is besheging most of those communities whose

plight we are discussing. The regime has available to it able miserable

Ed event of its own -- formhdable air defences of its own and Russia

has also deployed air defences inside Syrian territory. It is for

that reason that we believe the safest and most effective mdans of

providing humanitarian access would still be for the UN to agred terms

through which that aid can be delivered. If that proves not to be

working, we are going to have to return to this issue, as I have

already indicated. Deakin dhsh and is on the ground are clearlx very

challenging -- the conditions on the ground are clearly very challenging

and are often in very built,up, urban areas where there is no

suitable space for a drop zone and obviously high altitude drops where

it could possibly harm the people on the ground. Will the Ministdr

continued to press for access to aid to be delivered by truck convoy and

Kalak opted to people who are besieged? We shall and I will be

continuing that in Geneva this afternoon. According to the UN, some

600,000 people are in danger of starvation. The Syrian Government

say there is no need for adtlts because there is no starvathon, so

clearly we have a different of opinion and we need the support of

the Syrians and Russians because we in Britain proud -- pride otrselves

on helping others here and `broad. If we can't secure the land access

and the only way is by air, is it the garment's intention to support

the UN in pushing ahead with this to ensure there isn't a humanitarian

crisis and people aren't st`rving? It was my right honourable friend

who pressed at the previous meeting for air drops to be continudd -

considered as a last resort and if we can't secure the access for the

UN that we -- they are seekhng and we are supporting in trying to

achieve, we will have to return to that possibility.