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Syria Chemical Attack Is Condemned, as U.N. Security Council Prepares to Meet Syria Chemical Attack Is Condemned, as U.N. Security Council Prepares to Meet
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — The United Nations Security Council prepared for emergency talks on Wednesday after the worst chemical attack in Syria in years, as condemnation of the assault continued to pour in and as donor nations met in Brussels and called yet again for an end to the six-year war.LONDON — The United Nations Security Council prepared for emergency talks on Wednesday after the worst chemical attack in Syria in years, as condemnation of the assault continued to pour in and as donor nations met in Brussels and called yet again for an end to the six-year war.
Pope Francis called the attack “an unacceptable massacre”; the NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, deplored “the use of these barbaric weapons”; and Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, said that Syria’s government bore primary responsibility. Britain, France and the United States put forward a resolution condemning the attack and calling for an investigation, but Russia, one of the Syrian government’s principal backers, said the resolution was “unacceptable,” setting the stage for a Security Council showdown.
“The horrific events of yesterday demonstrate, unfortunately, that war crimes are going on in Syria,” António Guterres, the United Nations secretary general, said in Brussels on Wednesday. Officials in Russia suggested that a Syrian airstrike had hit a bomb-making “terrorist warehouse” containing toxic substances, but Western governments, including the United States, placed the blame squarely on the government of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad.
Asked whether the government of President Bashar al-Assad was responsible for the chemical attack, Mr. Guterres said there needed to be “a very clear investigation to remove all doubts.” He added that the Security Council would gather on Wednesday for “a very important meeting” in the aftermath of the assault. António Guterres, the United Nations secretary general, declared in Brussels on Wednesday that “war crimes are going on in Syria.”
In Brussels, donors convened by the European Union met for a conference to raise money for humanitarian relief. Last year’s meeting saw more than $12 billion in pledges, but given the scale of the suffering today — five million refugees, more than a quarter of Syria’s prewar population — any additional aids seems unlikely to suffice. Asked whether Mr. Assad’s government was responsible, Mr. Guterres called for “a very clear investigation to remove all doubts.” He added that the Security Council would gather on Wednesday for “a very important meeting” in the aftermath of the assault.
Condemnation also came from Pope Francis, who called the attack “an unacceptable massacre”; the NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, who deplored “the use of these barbaric weapons”; and Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, who said that Syria’s government bore primary responsibility.
In Brussels, donors convened by the European Union met for a conference to raise money for humanitarian relief. Last year’s meeting saw more than $12 billion in pledges, but given the scale of the suffering today — five million refugees, more than a quarter of Syria’s prewar population — whatever additional aid is pledged seems unlikely to suffice.
The conference is aimed at reassuring countries hosting millions of displaced Syrians — most notably Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey — that they will continue to receive financial support to manage the intense pressures the influx has caused.
The arrival of more than one million migrants, many of them Syrian, has bolstered the fortunes of right-wing populist groups in Germany, and the country’s foreign minister, Sigmar Gabriel, went out of his way to acknowledge the role Syria’s neighbors have played.
Lebanon and Jordan “have far fewer inhabitants than Germany, 10 percent, even less, and they’ve taken in an unbelievable number of refugees, and they’re relatively poor countries measured against European standards,” Mr. Gabriel said at a news conference, thanking them.
The war in Syria has taken nearly 400,000 lives. The death toll from the attack on Tuesday, on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib Province, rose to at least 72, monitors said, but rescue workers continued to look for and help survivors, some hiding in shelters. The dead included roughly 20 children.The war in Syria has taken nearly 400,000 lives. The death toll from the attack on Tuesday, on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib Province, rose to at least 72, monitors said, but rescue workers continued to look for and help survivors, some hiding in shelters. The dead included roughly 20 children.
Some victims of the attack were taken to Turkey, and the Turkish health minister reported that nearly 30 people were being treated in the country. Two died while receiving treatment in the southern province of Hatay.Some victims of the attack were taken to Turkey, and the Turkish health minister reported that nearly 30 people were being treated in the country. Two died while receiving treatment in the southern province of Hatay.
The first known use of chemicals as weapons in Syria’s civil war came in 2012, and the attack on Tuesday was the most devastating since an August 2013 assault around the town of Ghouta that left hundreds dead and challenged President Barack Obama’s declaration that the use of chemical weapons would amount to a “red line.”The first known use of chemicals as weapons in Syria’s civil war came in 2012, and the attack on Tuesday was the most devastating since an August 2013 assault around the town of Ghouta that left hundreds dead and challenged President Barack Obama’s declaration that the use of chemical weapons would amount to a “red line.”
Mr. Obama considered a more direct American intervention in the conflict, but he ultimately decided against one.Mr. Obama considered a more direct American intervention in the conflict, but he ultimately decided against one.
“Doctors in Idlib are reporting that dozens of patients suffering from breathing difficulties and suffocation have been admitted to hospitals in the governorate for urgent medical attention, many of them women and children,” the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.“Doctors in Idlib are reporting that dozens of patients suffering from breathing difficulties and suffocation have been admitted to hospitals in the governorate for urgent medical attention, many of them women and children,” the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.
“Reports first emerged of the use of chemical weapons agents in Syria in 2012 and have since occurred with disturbing frequency,” the organization added, “including repeated allegations of chlorine use in and around Aleppo last year, especially from September to December 2016.”“Reports first emerged of the use of chemical weapons agents in Syria in 2012 and have since occurred with disturbing frequency,” the organization added, “including repeated allegations of chlorine use in and around Aleppo last year, especially from September to December 2016.”
Dr. Peter Salama, executive director of the organization’s Health Emergencies Program, said in a statement, “These types of weapons are banned by international law because they represent an intolerable barbarism.”Dr. Peter Salama, executive director of the organization’s Health Emergencies Program, said in a statement, “These types of weapons are banned by international law because they represent an intolerable barbarism.”
Hospitals in the Khan Sheikhoun area have limited capacity, and Al Rahma Hospital — the first to treat victims of the attack — was itself temporarily rendered inoperable by bombing on Tuesday. Hospitals in the Khan Sheikhoun area are stretched to the breaking point and Al Rahma Hospital — the first to treat victims of the attack — was itself temporarily rendered inoperable by bombing on Tuesday.
Another facility in the area, Ma’ara Hospital, “has been out of service since last Sunday because of extensive damage to infrastructure,” the World Health Organization reported. “Emergency rooms and intensive care units in Idlib are overwhelmed and reporting shortages in medicines required to treat injured patients. Many patients have been referred to hospitals in southern Turkey.”Another facility in the area, Ma’ara Hospital, “has been out of service since last Sunday because of extensive damage to infrastructure,” the World Health Organization reported. “Emergency rooms and intensive care units in Idlib are overwhelmed and reporting shortages in medicines required to treat injured patients. Many patients have been referred to hospitals in southern Turkey.”
The organization also said that some of the victims showed symptoms “consistent with exposure to organophosphorus chemicals, a category of chemicals that includes nerve agents.”The organization also said that some of the victims showed symptoms “consistent with exposure to organophosphorus chemicals, a category of chemicals that includes nerve agents.”
Western governments, including the Trump administration, have blamed Mr. Assad for the attack, but the Syrian leadership and Russia, one of its principal backers, have denied any responsibility. Western governments, including the Trump administration, have blamed Mr. Assad for the attack, but the Syrian leadership and Russia, one of its principal backers, have denied responsibility.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that a Syrian airstrike had hit a bomb-making “terrorist warehouse” that housed toxic substances.
In 2013, Mr. Trump urged Mr. Obama on Twitter, “Do NOT attack Syria, fix U.S.A.” But on Tuesday, even as the American president called the Syrian attack a “heinous” massacre that “cannot be ignored by the civilized world,” he blamed his predecessor, saying in a statement, “President Obama said in 2012 that he would establish a ‘red line’ against the use of chemical weapons and then did nothing.”In 2013, Mr. Trump urged Mr. Obama on Twitter, “Do NOT attack Syria, fix U.S.A.” But on Tuesday, even as the American president called the Syrian attack a “heinous” massacre that “cannot be ignored by the civilized world,” he blamed his predecessor, saying in a statement, “President Obama said in 2012 that he would establish a ‘red line’ against the use of chemical weapons and then did nothing.”
Even as the wrangling in Washington continued, the center of diplomatic efforts seemed to be at the United Nations, where Western officials feared that Russia would use the veto power it has as a permanent member of the Security Council to block condemnation of the latest attack.Even as the wrangling in Washington continued, the center of diplomatic efforts seemed to be at the United Nations, where Western officials feared that Russia would use the veto power it has as a permanent member of the Security Council to block condemnation of the latest attack.
The German foreign minister, Sigmar Gabriel, called on Russia to endorse a planned Security Council resolution condemning the attack.
The French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, who met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, on Tuesday to express condolences for the St. Petersburg subway bombing this week, used the occasion to condemn the attack in Syria.The French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, who met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, on Tuesday to express condolences for the St. Petersburg subway bombing this week, used the occasion to condemn the attack in Syria.
“He noted that this barbaric act should not go unpunished and recalled that the international community as a whole should take responsibility and work to establish facts and responsibilities,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “He noted that this barbaric act should not go unpunished and recalled that the international community as a whole should take responsibility and work to establish facts and responsibilities,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement, referring to Mr. Ayrault.
Arriving at the Brussels conference — co-sponsored by the United Nations, Britain, Germany, Kuwait, Norway and Qatar — Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary, said it was impossible to imagine Mr. Assad’s “barbaric regime” continuing after the conflict ends.Arriving at the Brussels conference — co-sponsored by the United Nations, Britain, Germany, Kuwait, Norway and Qatar — Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary, said it was impossible to imagine Mr. Assad’s “barbaric regime” continuing after the conflict ends.
Mr. Johnson also suggested that Mr. Assad and his government should be held accountable for war crimes, regardless of whether Russia was involved in the latest chemical attack.Mr. Johnson also suggested that Mr. Assad and his government should be held accountable for war crimes, regardless of whether Russia was involved in the latest chemical attack.
The strike “confirms to everyone that this is a barbaric regime that has made it impossible for us to imagine them being in authority of Syria after this conflict is over,” Mr. Johnson said, adding that Britain and France had called for the Security Council to meet in an emergency session. Speaking at the same news conference at which Mr. Gabriel appeared, Mr. Johnson said that money should not be used in any way that could help the government in Damascus, but he acknowledged that needed to be balanced against humanitarian needs.
Federica Mogherini, the European Union foreign policy chief, said she had been deeply shaken by the images of child victims of the chemical attack. “There can be no budget, there can be no European checkbook, no financing of Syria without a transition away from the Assad regime,” Mr. Johnson said.
“What we have seen yesterday has horrified all of us,” she told reporters. “I can say this as a politician, but first of all as a mother.”
The priority in Brussels was to “repledge” funds to help Syrians inside the country as well as those who had fled to nearby countries like Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, she said.
Delegates from those countries at the Brussels conference said they already faced immense strains, and they called on the European Union to do much more to help them to bear the burden of a crisis caused by the displacement of millions of Syrians.
“Jordan is fatigued and has reached its maximum carrying capacity,” Hani al-Mulki, the prime minister of Jordan, said at the conference. “Without the continued support of the international community, this will negatively impact our overstretched ability to continue providing necessary services to Syrians while maintaining service levels without adversely affecting Jordanian citizens or risking our hard-earned development gains.”