UN Security Council adopts resolution ensuring humanitarian aid amid Daesh/ISIS sanctions

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a draft resolution that ensures sanctions against terrorist Daesh/ISIS and Al-Qaeda groups do not block humanitarian aid flow to those affected.

The resolution, spearheaded by Switzerland and the US, was initially adopted on Dec. 9, 2022. It allows funds and resources to be used for humanitarian aid and essential services, even if sanctions are in place, as long as it does not conflict with the requirement to freeze the assets of sanctioned individuals or terror groups like Daesh/ISIS and Al-Qaeda.

Speaking before the vote, Switzerland's UN envoy Pascale Baeriswyl told the Council that the resolution "aims to facilitate humanitarian assistance and thus save lives."

"With this resolution, we will continue to assume our collective responsibility for the good of humankind. Resolution 2664 was adopted two years ago, it was a historic step forward in protecting humanitarian operations while mitigating the unintended consequences of UN sanctions," she said.

Following 15-votes in favor, US deputy envoy to the UN Robert Wood said: "over the past few years, we have listened to the UN and NGO community, and among the challenges they shared was the impact of some UN sanctions on their work."

"This resolution helps remove that particular barrier, and it does so without lifting the burden on sanctioned actors," he said, describing the vote as "historic" one.