“Humanitarian Corridor” Proposal Deeply Flawed

A statement from over 35 Syrian, regional and international humanitarian, human rights and development organisations on the Russia-Syrian proposal to establish “humanitarian corridors” out of Aleppo. 

We are extremely alarmed at Russia and Syria’s joint proposal to set up so-called “humanitarian corridors” out of eastern Aleppo. We consider the proposal deeply flawed on humanitarian grounds and consider it warning for the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) to urgently step up efforts to end the use of brutal siege tactics and illegal attacks on civilians.  
A true humanitarian operation would not force the people of Aleppo to choose between fleeing into the arms of their attackers or remaining in a besieged area under continued bombardment. No one should be forced to flee or remain, and measures must be put in place for the UN to ensure and monitor the safety and protection of anyone voluntarily evacuating.   

Far from averting a humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo, we are gravely concerned that the proposal for “humanitarian corridors” forewarns of a significant risk to civilians who remain. A ‘safe passage’ offer does not mean that those who stay behind become legitimate military targets. The city cannot be allowed to become another theatre for mass slaughter.  

If Russia is serious about averting a humanitarian disaster in Aleppo it should strongly support the UN’s call for an immediate weekly 48-hour humanitarian pause to ensure safe, unimpeded and immediate humanitarian access – both for aid to get into Aleppo and for civilians to leave voluntarily. As long as the bombing, shelling and fighting continues, and in the absence of any genuine confidence-building measures, civilians cannot be expected to trust in the safety of walking through these proposed corridors. All efforts of the ISSG must focus on pushing for a sustained ceasefire, and for an immediate end to the shameless and unacceptable attacks on hospitals and civilian targets.  

 Signed:

1. ASML

2. AWO International

3. BINAA

4. Bridge of Peace

5. The Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU)

6. CARE International

7. CCFD-Terre Solidaire

8. Christian Aid

9. Doctors of the World UK

10. EuroMed Rights (EMHRN)

11. Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

12. GOAL

13. Hand in Hand for Syria

14. Human Appeal International

15. Human Rights and Democracy Media Center “SHASM” /Palestine

16. Islamic Relief USA

17. Karam Foundation

18. Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies

19. NuDay Syria

20. Oxfam

21. Physicians for Human Rights

22. Refugees International

23. Relief & Reconciliation for Syria

24. Relief International

25. Rethink Rebuild Society

26. Save the Children

27. STAND: The Student-led Movement to End Mass Atrocities

28. Stichting Vluchteling

29. Syria Relief

30. Syria Relief and Development

31. Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS)

32. Tearfund

33. The International Rescue Committee

34. The Syria Campaign

35. Trocaire

36. Vision GRAM-International

37. WATAN

38. WILPF

39. World Vision