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Syria

Joint NGO letter on the cessation of hostilities in Syria

Syria Cessation of Hostilities Welcome: Humanitarian Aid Desperately Needed

A statement from 101 Syrian, regional and international humanitarian and human rights organisations on Syria's Cessation of Hostilities

This week's cessation of hostilities agreement negotiated by Russia and the US could be an important and welcome step forward for the future of Syria. Countless lives are saved each day this cessation holds.

Now that Russia and the US have brought about a significant reduction in violence and a cessation of airstrikes, they must use their influence over the Syrian government, non-state armed groups and other parties to the conflict to ensure full and unhindered humanitarian access across the country. Besieged areas like eastern Aleppo, where 275,000 people are trapped and desperate for food, fuel and medical supplies, and Madaya, where there has been an outbreak of meningitis, should be prioritized.

Sporadic and temporary cessations of violence cannot become ends in themselves. The success of this agreement should not be measured just by a reduction in fighting. It needs to be accompanied by unfettered and sustained humanitarian access throughout Syria; an end to the forced displacement of communities as seen recently in Darayya; and a political process that addresses the root causes of the crisis.

Russia and the United States have proved for the second time that they have the power to silence the weapons in Syria. The lives of innocent Syrian civilians are in their hands. The brutal conflict and unlawful targeting of civilians and civilian structures such as hospitals, schools and markets cannot be allowed to recommence.

This cessation of hostilities agreement may provide a rare opportunity to move towards a negotiated political solution to Syria's devastating conflict. We call on Russia and the United States to ensure that this opportunity is not wasted. The US and Russia's counterparts in the International Syria Support Group must also stand up to their responsibilities to use their influence to encourage all parties to the conflict to respect the cessation, to monitor and report violations of the cessation, and to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.

Signed

11.11.11
Abrar Halap Association for Relief and Development
Action Contre la Faim
Ahl Horan
Al Seeraj For Development And Healthcare
Alkawakibi Human Rights Organization
American Relief Coalition for Syria
Amrha
Andalus Institute for Tolerance & Anti-Violence Studies
Arab Center for the Promotion of Human Rights
Arab Coalition for Sudan
Arab Foundation for Civil Society
Arab Organisation for Human Rights - Mauritania
Arab program for human rights activists (APHRA)
Association de Soutien aux Médias Libres
Attaa for Relief and Development (ARD)
Balad Syria Organization
Bihar Relief Organization
Binna for Development
Bonyan
Bridge of Peace
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
CAFOD
CARE International
CCFD - Terre Solidaire
Center for Civilians in Conflict
Children Plus
Christian Aid
Concern Worldwide
Council for Arab-British Understanding
Damascene House Foundation for Society Development
Deir Elzzor United Association (FURAT)
Doctors of the World UK
Education Without Borders (MIDAD)
Emaar AL Sham Humanitarian Association
Enjaz Development Foundation
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor- Geneva
Fraternity Foundation For Human Rights
Ghiath Matar Foundation
Ghiras Al Nahda
Ghiras Foundation
Ghiras Syria
Global Call to Action Against Poverty
Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Handicap International
Help 4 Syria
Human Appeal
Humanitarian Relief Association (IYD)
Ihsan Relief and Development
Insan for Psychosocial Support
International Humanitarian Relief
International Supporting Woman Association (ISWA)
International Rescue Committee
Irtiqaa Foundation
Islamic Relief
Just Foreign Policy, US
Karam Foundation, NFP
Local Development and Small-Projects Support (LDSPS)
Maram Foundation for Relief & Development
Middle East and North Africa Partnership for Preventing of Armed Conflict
Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
Mountain Foundation
Najda Now
Nasaem Khair
Nuon Organization for Peacebuilding
Orient for Human Relief
Oxfam
Pax Christi International
Permanent Peace Movement
Qitaf Al Khair Relief Association
Rethink Rebuild Society
Saed Charity Association
Save A Soul
Save the Children
Sedra Association for Charity
Shama Association
Snabel Al Khyr
Society for Threatened Peoples
STAND: The Student-Led Movement to End Mass Atrocities
Syria Charity
Syria Relief
Syria Relief and Development
Syria Relief Organization
Syrian American Medical Society
Syrian Education Commission (SEC)
Syrian Network for Human Rights
Syrian Engineers for Construction and Development Organization (SECD)
Syrian Expatriate Medical Association (SEMA)
Syrian Medical Mission
Syrian Orphans Organization
Takaful Al Sham Charity Organization
The Center for Victims of Torture
The Syrian Establishment for Human Care & Enhancement (MASRRAT)
Tuba Dernegi
Unified Revolutionary Medical Bureau in East Gouta
Union of Relief and Medical Care Organizations (UOSSM)
Union of Syrians Abroad
Violations Documentation Center in Syria
Vision GRAM-International
WATAN
White Hands - Beyazeller
World Vision
Zain Foundation