After Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa conclude their two-day summit with a strong statement on the urgent need for humanitarian access in Syria, The Elders welcome their call, urging the five leaders to work with all parties to facilitate the work of humanitarian groups.

The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have issued an urgent call to facilitate humanitarian access in Syria, following the BRICS summit, which concluded on 27 March in Durban, South Africa.

In their final declaration, which includes a broad range of international recommendations, the BRICS leaders expressed their “deep concern with the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Syria” and condemned “the increasing violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law as a result of continued violence.”

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Jacob Zuma, added: “In view of the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria, we call upon all parties to allow and facilitate immediate, safe, full and unimpeded access to humanitarian organisations to all in need of assistance. We urge all parties to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers.”

The Elders welcome the BRICS statement on Syria and urge the five leaders to follow the statement with action, working with all relevant parties to facilitate the work of humanitarian groups. The Elders believe that as part of this effort, it is essential that those who control territories in Syria, including President Assad, permit unimpeded humanitarian access.

The Elders also welcome the support expressed by the BRICS leaders for the efforts of their fellow Elder Lakhdar Brahimi, as the UN-Arab League Joint Special Representative for Syria.