Saudi and 58 other states urge UN for action on Syria

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday sent a joint letter to the top three United Nations officials urging the New York-based body to take more action to resolve the Syrian conflict.

The letter, co-signed by 9 heads of the UN diplomatic missions of the US, UK, Qatar and Turkey and endorsed by 59, highlighted their “deepest concern” at Syria’s “grave” humanitarian crisis, and violations of the fragile ceasefire agreement.

“We stress the urgent need for the immediate, full, unimpeded and sustained access for the delivery of humanitarian aid,” the letter read. It added that the signatories “fully” support the peace-making efforts of Staffan De Mistura, the UN’s special envoy for Syria.

Additionally, all parties must work towards a broad “non-sectarian” political transition will full executive powers in line with a previous UN resolution, the letter read.

The four-page letter was addressed to the UN secretary-general, general assembly president and security council president, the three most powerful positions in the world governing body.

The UN estimates that 4.6 million people are currently living in hard-to-reach areas in Syria, while around 592,700 people are believed to be besieged in 19 locations across Syria.

Syria’s war has killed well 280,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in March 2011.