Gulf states, Turkey call for UN meeting on Syria

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Turkey have issued a joint statement, urging the UN Security Council to hold an emergency session on Syria, Al Arabiya News Channel reported on Sunday.

In their statement, these countries called on the UN to take on the responsibility of restoring security and peace in Syria, highlighting the humanitarian suffering of people especially in the northwestern city of Aleppo.

In Aleppo, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating and hospitals are no longer able to treat those who escaped death especially after heavy bombardment by the Syrian regime against rebel-held areas east of the city.

Syria’s army pushed further into eastern Aleppo Saturday in a devastating assault that has placed it in control of more than half the former rebel stronghold.

The statement comes after a previous emergency session held by the UN on Aleppo on Wednesday proved to be futile in bringing any UN action to end suffering in Syria.

A warning by Stephen O’Brien, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, on Wednesday also fell on deaf ears.

“For the sake of humanity we call on -- we plead -- with the parties and those with influence to do everything in their power to protect civilians and enable access to the besieged part of eastern Aleppo before it becomes one giant graveyard,” O’Brien told an emergency session held by the UN on Aleppo in New York.

Following the meeting, Russia said on Thursday it will continue its operations in eastern Aleppo and will rescue the Syrian city from what it considers terrorists.

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