Labour chair of Syria APPG says 'inaction should shame us all'
Alison McGovern MP has called for urgent aid drops and help for civilians in Aleppo facing bombs and starvation.
The Labour chair of the APPG Friends of Syria, who took over that post from her friend Jo Cox MP who was murdered by a neo-Nazi in June, writes in the Mirror that words of condemnation are not enough.
Her article follows a protest during Jeremy Corbyn’s speech on human rights on Saturday by activist Peter Tatchell and Syrian campaigners who called on the Labour leader to back aid drops in parliament.
McGovern writes today:
“The reality in front of our eyes is this: either we do everything possible to get humanitarian support to the people of eastern Aleppo, or we stand impotent while a quarter of a million people in one of the great historic cities of the world are starved and bombed into submission.”
She said NGOs and charities like Oxfam, Christian Aid and Save the Children signed a joint letter backing aid drops out of desperation for the people of eastern Aleppo, where civilians are under siege by Syrian dictator Assad and Russian war planes.
McGovern said:
“Leaflets dropped by the murderous Assad regime tell cowering families that they are alone, that the world does not care about their pain and their suffering.
It is up to us to give the lie to this propaganda. We must rise to this moment and show the best face of our country.”
She cited UK aid drops to West Berlin and humanitarian action in Kosovo and Sierra Leone, adding:
“The inaction of our leaders when civilians are being bombed and international law is being ripped to shreds should shame us all.”
Adam Barnett is staff writer for Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBarnett13
See: PMQs: Theresa May doesn’t answer on aid drops for Syrians facing starvation
One Response to “Alison McGovern says ‘it’s now or never’ to save Aleppo from bombs and starvation”
Jimmy Glesga
Who gets the aid when it is dropped! And who supported the overthrow of Assad. The West have the blood of the Middle East on their hands and they try to offer humanitarian aid for their crime.