UN envoy condemns continuing use of barrel bombs, killing of civilians in Syria conflict

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria has condemned the continuing use of barrel bombs in the Middle Eastern country’s ongoing conflict and called on all parties to respect the sanctity of civilian life, according to a spokesperson for the Organization.

Addressing today’s noon briefing held at UN Headquarters in New York, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters that the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, has condemned the use of the censured weaponry following reports of renewed bombing from Government aircrafts in a town in Idlib province in north-western Syria.

The spokesperson added that Mr. de Mistura reiterated the fact that the overwhelming majority of civilian casualties in the Syrian conflict have been caused by the use of indiscriminate aerial weapons, such as barrel bombs, and that such a practice remains “totally unacceptable.”

Moreover, the Special Envoy reportedly stressed that the protection of civilians during armed conflicts remains a cornerstone of international humanitarian law and is applicable in all circumstance without distinction.

Mr. de Mistura’s appeal comes just days after at least 70 civilians were killed in Syria’s northern Aleppo province by barrel bombs dropped from government helicopters.