UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously adopted a resolution demanding a cease-fire of at least 30 days across Syria that would allow humanitarian access and urgent medical evacuations.
Resolution 2401 demands an immediate cessation of hostilities for "a durable humanitarian pause for at least 30 consecutive days throughout Syria," to enable the safe, unimpeded and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and services and medical evacuations of the critically sick and wounded.
It demands all parties engage immediately to ensure full and comprehensive implementation of the humanitarian pause.
According to the resolution, the cease-fire does not apply to military operations against the Islamic State, al-Qaida and Al Nusra Front and their associates, and other terrorist groups as designated by the Security Council.
The resolution demands that, immediately after the start of the cessation of hostilities, all parties shall allow safe, unimpeded and sustained access each week for UN and partners' humanitarian convoys, including medical and surgical supplies, to all people in need in all parts of Syria, in particular to hard-to-reach and besieged locations.
It further demands that, immediately after the start of the cease-fire, all parties shall allow the United Nations and its implementing partners to undertake safe, unconditional medical evacuations, based on medical need and urgency.
The resolution also demands the immediate lifting of sieges on populated areas, including Eastern Ghouta, the last major rebel stronghold in the country, which has seen heavy bombardment in the past week.
The resolution was adopted after two weeks of tough consultations with twists and turns at the last minute. On Saturday, the council members held more than two hours of consultations before the resolution was finally passed.
