China's UN envoy refuted on Wednesday accusations by U.S. and British envoys regarding the latest humanitarian crisis in Syria, saying the accusations do not square with the fact and make no sense. 
  
Speaking at a Security Council meeting, China's Permanent Representative to the UN Zhang Jun stressed that political settlement is the fundamental way to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria. 
  
Noting the current humanitarian crisis is a tragedy for the Syrian people, and a tragedy for the international community, Zhang said the parties should demonstrate a responsible and constructive attitude on the Syrian humanitarian issue. 
  
"The U.S. and the UK are abusing the Security Council to criticize China and others. China rejects their baseless accusations," Zhang said. 
  
He said their accusations do not square with the facts. Due to the high sensitivity of the humanitarian issue in Syria, members of the Security Council have held consultations for many times and it was difficult to reach consensus. The Security Council had to vote several times. 
  
In order to avoid confrontation, China tried to bridge differences among relevant parties, playing a coordinating role in between to seek a solution, he added. 
  
"After rounds of consultations, a solution was found. It may not be the most satisfactory one to all parties, but it is the way to solve the problem under the circumstances."

China is glad that a solution has been found and China has played its role, which is recognized by the council members, said the Chinese ambassador, adding that "the accusations against China are totally unwarranted." 
  
Speaking on votes, Zhang said all countries have the right to make a decision based on their own positions. The United States and Britain also voted against the other draft, he added. "It is the U.S. and the UK who should shoulder the responsibility on Syria." 
  
"We hope all parties will take up the responsibility, avoid politicizing the humanitarian issue, make real efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria and give human rights and humanitarianism back to the Syrian people," Zhang said. 
  
Abusing the council for finger pointing does not help solve any problem, but only aggravates confrontation, he said. 
  
The Security Council had a meeting on Syria on Wednesday. UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock told the council that the humanitarian situation in the northeast remains difficult. 
  
The UN Security Council re-authorized the cross-border aid mechanism for the Syrian people on January 10, which expires at midnight that day, after heated discussion. The vote came after the council failed to re-authorize the mechanism on December 20 as a result of division among members. 
  
Deputy permanent representative of Britain to the United Nations Jonathan Allen criticized China and Russia on Wednesday for their decision to veto one of the humanitarian resolutions in the Security Council, saying the United Nations can no longer use the border crossings into the northeast and south of Syria. 

The Chinese envoy said humanitarian assistance should strictly abide by international law and the basic norms of international relations. 

"They should abide by the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, highlight the humanitarian nature and professionalism, and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of recipient countries," Zhang added. 
  
Humanitarian assistance to Syria should respect and safeguard Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity and avoid politicizing humanitarian issues, he stressed. 

"The Syrian government bears the primary responsibility for improving the humanitarian situation in Syria," he noted. 
  
Zhang also urged the international community to work together to combat terrorism in all forms in Syria and bring terrorists to justice. 

The humanitarian issue in Syria is intertwined with the security issue, Zhang said, adding that the eradication of terrorist forces is a necessary condition for the restoration of peace in the country. 

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Meanwhile, Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said Beijing is ready to play a constructive role in the early restoration of peace in Syria. 

Lowcock, the UN humanitarian chief, told the Security Council that there are 1.8 million people in northeast Syria needing humanitarian assistance. 

"Some 70,000 people are still displaced following the military operations we saw in October. An additional 90,000 people are living in IDP (internally displaced person) camps, including more than 66,000 in the Al Hol camp," he said. "An average of 850,000 people in need received assistance on a monthly basis in 2019 from within Syria, and that number increased significantly during the course of the year." 

Lowcock said that parties to the conflict, and those with influence, must stop the fighting. "Unless the current hostilities stop, we will see an even greater humanitarian catastrophe." 

(Cover: Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria, at UN headquarters in New York, October 24, 2019. /AP Photo)