UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The 10 elected members of the Security Council, informally known as the E10, on Wednesday called for restraint in the Idlib governorate of Syria and for the protection of civilians.
The E10 expressed deep concern about a humanitarian catastrophe in the event of a full-scale military operation in Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria, said Joanna Wronecka, Polish ambassador to the United Nations, whose country is the coordinator of the E10 group for the month of September.
The non-permanent members of the Security Council called for more efforts from all relevant actors with influence on the ground to find a peaceful solution to the situation in Idlib, she said.
The E10 reiterated the urgent appeal of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to the Syrian government and all other parties to exercise restraint and to prioritize the protection of civilians, she said.
The 10 countries urged all parties to take all necessary measures to safeguard civilians, allow freedom of movement and protect civilian infrastructure, including medical and educational facilities, said the ambassador, who was flanked by the representatives of other E10 members.
The 10 countries called for the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2401, which calls for a cease-fire across Syria for 30 days, she said. Resolution 2401, adopted unanimously in February 2018, was never implemented.
