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<p>At the Syria conference in London on 4 February, the Prime Minister announced that
the UK will more than double our support in response to the Syria crisis from £1.12
billion to over £2.3 billion, our largest ever humanitarian response to a single crisis.
We will consider any option compliant with international law that might save lives
in Syria. However, experience suggests that so-called ‘safe’ areas can prove difficult
to demilitarise and protect against all threats. In fact, there is a risk that they
can become targets.</p><p>For a safe area to work, all parties to the conflict and
relevant regional authorities would need to agree to its establishment. In the absence
of such consent, this would require foreign military intervention, authorised by a
UN Security Council Resolution. Any party seeking to establish a safe area would need
to ensure sufficient military capability to guarantee safety from both aerial and
ground attack, including by unconventional means. Credible measures would also be
needed to prevent human rights abuses and to provide humanitarian assistance within
the protected area. In addition, the existence of a ‘safe’ area near an international
border should not be used to repatriate refugees against their will, or to deny access
to asylum.</p><p>The UK plays a key role in ensuring humanitarian access to Syria.
By 31 January 2016, at least 257 shipments of cross-border aid had been delivered
as a direct result of the UK co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolutions 2165, 2191
and 2258 which enables the UN to deliver aid into Syria without the consent of the
regime. We continue to call on all sides to the conflict to respect International
Humanitarian Law and ensure free, unimpeded access for humanitarian agencies.</p>
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