Switzerland condemns continuing Syria violence

The Syrian civil war has claimed an estimated 400,000 lives Keystone

Switzerland has issued a fresh condemnation of the continuing violence in Syria following the bombing of residential areas in Aleppo at the weekend and strikes in Douma, on the outskirts of Damascus, which saw humanitarian aid agencies caught in the crossfire.

The five year Syrian civil war has seen an estimated 400,000 people killed and around six million people internally displaced in the Middle East country.

The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs voiced its displeasure in a statement released on Monday. The ministry said it “firmly condemns all violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuse of human rights committed by all parties to the conflict.”

Of particular concern were the raids that struck four NGOs set up in the area to help the civilian population. Two of those – the Violations Documentations Centre and the Local Development and Small Projects Support Office – are directly supported by the Swiss foreign affairs ministry.

It called on “all parties to the conflict to respect the rules relating to the conduct of hostilities, in particular the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.”

“The FDFA condemns all attacks, including those on medical facilities and calls for the protection of the population and civilian infrastructure, and improved immediate and sustainable humanitarian access so that the basic needs of the civilian population can be satisfied,” the statement read.