Medics check body temperature of passengers upon their arrival by bus in Syria's Kurdish area from Iraqi Kurdistan via the Semalka border crossing in Syria on March 1. (Photo: AFP/VNA) New York (VNA) – Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN, hascalled all concerned parties to continue pursuing dialogue and seekinglong-term political solutions for the situation in Syria.
Vietnam welcomes recentprogress in the security situation in Syria’s northwest, said Quy during a UNSecurity Council (UNSC) video conference on the humanitarian situation in the country on March 30.
However, he voicedconcerns over the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in many parts of Syriaand the country’s ability to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quy showed interestin the UN’s plans to further support the political progress in Syria at thistime and appreciated aid provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) andother humanitarian partners to Syria to contain the spread of the disease.
Besides, he also urged allconcerned parties to ensure the transport of humanitarian goods across the region.
Speaking at theconference, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and EmergencyRelief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said 10 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed inSyria, including one death, adding this is "the tip of the iceberg" judging from other places and that the virus has thepotential to have a devastating impact on vulnerable communities across thecountry.
Together with UN SpecialEnvoy for Syria Gier Pederson, he reiterated calls for a complete and immediatenationwide ceasefire to enable an all-out effort to counter the march of thenew coronavirus.
Other UNSC members alsocalled for a sustained period of calm for COVID-19 relief efforts to take placeacross Syria and the smooth movement of humanitarian goods, including medicalsupplies, in the country./.
VNA
