Qatar: Unjust Blockade Threatens Region's Security and Stability, Violates International Law

Qatar: Unjust Blockade Threatens Region's Security and Stability, Violates International Law

New York / Information Office / May 28

The State of Qatar reiterated that the unjust blockade imposed against it threatens the security and stability of the region, violates international law and contradicts the orientations of the international community, stressing that this blockade is imposed under false pretexts without regard for the dire consequences for the security and stability of the region.

This came in a statement delivered by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani during a virtual meeting held by the UN Security Council on the 'Protection of civilians in armed conflict'.

Her Excellency said the Security Council stressed the importance of conflict prevention in the context of a commitment to collective action to spare people all over the world the suffering and destruction caused by conflicts and to enhance international peace and security.

In this context, Her Excellency expressed her regret that this approach was not observed in many cases, as the unjust and unlawful blockade against the State of Qatar will enter its fourth year on June 5.

The blockade is imposed under false pretenses without regard for the dire consequences for the security and stability of the region, at a time when the Arab region is witnessing many crises and conflicts that cause tremendous suffering, HE Sheikha Alya said. Instead of seeking to contribute to solving and settling these crises and their root causes, the blockading countries have chosen a path that violates the provisions of international law and contradicts the orientations of the international community, she added.

Her Excellency also said that the State of Qatar is proud of its partnership with the United Nations system to improve the United Nations ability to respond quickly to the millions of civilians in need in armed conflict, noting Qatar's multi-year and unearmarked contributions to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The State of Qatar is an active member of the support group of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, she said, pointing to the assumption of the State of Qatar to chair the group for the month of July.

HE the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations noted the support to country-based pooled funds in the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs since 2016, by providing unearmarked and rapid funding to bridge funding gaps, referring to the support provided by the State of Qatar to humanitarian efforts in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Nigeria.

In line with the State of Qatar's intention to support the International Committee of the Red Cross, a joint declaration of intent, the first of its kind in the region, was signed to support civilians affected by armed conflict, which contributes to strengthening respect for international humanitarian law, she said.

In the context of sharing responsibility and international cooperation to address the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Her Excellency underlined cooperation between the State of Qatar and NATO in support of the calls made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to counter the humanitarian effects of this pandemic, noting the support provided by the State of Qatar to the global appeal launched by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to provide support for the transportation of humanitarian and medical supplies by air through the NATO Disaster Relief Coordination Center.

HE the Ambassador said that the world is facing today an unprecedented global health crisis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, pointing to the forced displacement of more than seventy million people due to armed conflicts, saying that they are the most vulnerable to the threat of the pandemic.

She stressed the need for immediate action by the international community to protect civilians in light of the risks posed by the pandemic, stressing the critical importance of a serious response by all parties to armed conflicts to the call of the UN Secretary-General on March 25, 2020 for a general ceasefire in the world.

Concluding, HE the Ambassador said the State of Qatar is proud to co-chair the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect with Denmark and Costa Rica.

Her Excellency affirmed Qatar's endeavor, on the fifteenth anniversary of the launch of this historic principle at the 2005 World Summit of the United Nations, to ensure that the international community will not again fail to stop the crimes of the mass atrocity crimes such as war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.