UNITED NATIONS — The UN Security Council adopted a
resolution on Friday to allow humanitarian aid to continue unhindered into
countries targeted by
UN sanctions, particularly frozen assets.
اضافة اعلان
The text states that "payments of funds",
"economic resources", or "the provision of goods and services
necessary to ensure the timely delivery of humanitarian assistance ... are
permitted and are not a violation of the asset freezes imposed by this council."
The resolution applies to UN agencies as well as
humanitarian organizations participating in UN humanitarian work.
The humanitarian community has been calling for the Council
to ensure that "unintentional, second-order impacts don't impede their
work," said US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield. She said they
wanted was a "clear, standard carve-out" for all UN sanctions
regimes.
"And that is exactly what we are voting on today,"
she said, adding that the resolution would "save lives."
The text — which was also supported by several dozen states
even outside the Security Council — gained 14 votes in favor in the Council,
with only India abstaining.
"Our concerns emanate from proven instances of
terrorist groups taking full advantage of such humanitarian carve-outs and
making a mockery of sanctions regimes," in particular those against
Daesh and
Al-Qaeda, said India's ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, who is heading the
council this month.
The resolution specifies that the exemption is only valid
for two years for Al-Qaeda and Daesh.
"There have also been several cases of terrorist groups
in our neighborhood, including those listed by this council, reincarnating
themselves as humanitarian organizations and civil society groups precisely to
evade the sanctions," the Indian ambassador said.
The
International Committee of the Red Cross hailed the vote
as "an important day in the history of humanitarian action,"
expressing hope that the new rule would mean "better services for
communities, such as medical care, drilling of wells for clean drinking water,
or visits to people detained in conflict."
There are currently more than a dozen UN Security Council
sanctions regimes involving North Korea, Libya, the Democratic Republic of
Congo, and the Taliban.
Last year, after the return to power of the
Taliban in
Afghanistan, the Security Council implemented an exception for humanitarian aid
to the war-torn country.
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