U.N. says cannot comment on U.S. Syria missile strike

Record ID: 559806

  • Title: U.N. says cannot comment on U.S. Syria missile strike
  • Date: 7th April 2017
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (APRIL 7, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF U.N. WEEKLY BRIEFING ONGOING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (OCHA) SPOKESMAN, JENS LAERKE, SAYING: "What we have seen overnight appears to be a military decision, a military strategy, a strategic decision, which we cannot comment on as such as humanitarians." LAERKE AND UNICEF SPOKESMAN, CHRISTOPHE BOULIERAC, LISTENING TO QUESTION FROM REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (OCHA) SPOKESMAN, JENS LAERKE, SAYING: "I do not have any reports of any direct consequence on the humanitarian operation there, bearing in mind that this is, as proven elsewhere in Syria, these airstrikes are... We see airstrikes all the time, it's not a new feature, unfortunately, of the war in Syria. So of course we continue to push ahead to try to reach as many people as we possibly can." VARIOUS OF U.N. BRIEFING ONGOING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE UNITED NATIONS IN GENEVA, ALESSANDRA VELLUCCI, SAYING: "The special envoy (for Syria Staffan de Mistura) is following closely the situation, including through consultations with relevant interlocutors. The United Nations will provide additional comments on this issue as more information is brought to bear. " VARIOUS OF U.N. BRIEFING ONGOING (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNICEF SPOKESMAN, CHRISTOPHE BOULIERAC, SAYING: "At least 27 children were confirmed killed, a further 546 people among them, many children have been injured." U.N. BRIEFING ONGOING (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNICEF SPOKESMAN, CHRISTOPHE BOULIERAC, SAYING: "We have already distributed atropine in the past, we are rushing in more atropine which is an antidote to nerve agents and pesticide poisoning and we are working with health partners to raise awareness about medical response to exposure to chemicals." U.N. BRIEFING ONGOING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE U.N. OFFICE FOR THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (OHCHR), RAVINA SHAMDASANI, SAYING: "This absolutely horrific attack on Khan Sheikhoun has once again focused international attention on Syria and rightly so. The use of chemical weapons if confirmed would amount to a war crime and we have several other instances as well over the past year where chemical attacks have allegedly been used by Syrian forces in these instances." GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (APRIL 6, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 21st April 2017 11:46
  • Keywords: United Nations Trump Syria United States airstrike Jens Laerke Alessandra Vellucci Ravina Shamdasani Christophe Boulierac Staffan de Mistura Khan Sheikhoun
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Government/Politics,United Nations
  • Reuters ID: LVA0026BEHWEF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The United Nations said on Friday (April 7) it could not yet comment on the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to launch missile strikes on a Syrian airbase, a spokesman told a news briefing in Geneva.
    The sharp escalation of Washington's military engagement in the Syrian war came after a chemical attack - which the West says was carried out by Damascus - killed dozens of people in an area held by rebels seeking to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
    On Friday, a warplane hit the town of Khan Sheikhoun where Tuesday's chemical attack took place. An activist working at an air raid warning service in opposition areas told Reuters it caused only material damage.
    World Health Organization spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said the Idlib health directorate reported 84 people killed and 546 injured, 74 of which have been transferred to Turkey to a hospital in the Hatay region.
    The swift action is likely to be interpreted not only as a signal to Russia, but also to other countries such as North Korea, China and Iran where Trump has faced foreign policy tests early in his presidency.
    The talks have long been stalled and the war, which is in its seventh year, has killed more than 400,000 people, displaced millions inside Syria and set off a wave of refugees seeking shelter in neighbouring countries as well as the EU.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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