During a debate in the European Parliament today in Strasbourg, S&D MEPs expressed their revulsion at the use of starvation against civilians in Madaya and pressed for a political solution with all the regional players involved.
S&D MEP and vice-president for foreign affairs Victor Boştinaru said:
"As Syria's civil war enters its sixth year, the scenes in the Syrian town of Madaya last week showed yet again the horrifying depth of the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
"While images of malnourished children and starvation shocked us again, a UN aid convoy finally reached the besieged town where 40,000 people were trapped for months. Other towns along Syria's western border are in the same situation as starvation seems to have become a weapon of war. I stand with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who warned that the use of starvation as a weapon in Syria is a war crime.
"We need a political solution as the military strikes being conducted are not producing results – as I expected. I strongly condemn the targeting of other Syrian opposition groups and the killing of civilians. I am worried that wrongly targeted strikes and interference could further escalate the war in Syria and help Assad continue to kill his own people with impunity.
"We need a political solution that involves pressuring Iran, Russia and Saudi Arabia to stop fuelling the bloodshed. In this sense, the UN-led confidence-building measures are as important as the Syria donors conference that will take place in London on the 4th February. Efforts have to be intensified! We have to bring together – once again – all the regional and international players and this time we have to do better, because there is no other way."
