United Nations Department of Safety and Security unable to enter Douma, Syria, for reconnaissance

A reconnaissance mission led by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) was forced to turn back from Douma, Syria, this week under fire.

The mission was meant to be a preliminary for an Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fact-Finding Mission in the area, following allegations of chemical weapon use by the government. That FFM team remains deployed in Damascus for the present moment until the National Authority of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Russian Military Police can guarantee the security situation of the mission.

The UNDSS attempted to view two separate sites. At the first, they were barred by the gathering of a large crowd and advised to withdraw. At the second, they were confronted with small arms fire and detonation of an explosive, forcing their return to Damascus. The result is the OPCW being forced to say they do not know when the FFM team will be deployed to Douma, stressing an already strained international dispute.

“This incident again highlights the highly volatile environment in which the FFM is having to work and the security risks our staff are facing,” OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü said. “I should like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to States Parties for their continued support for the FFM, as they reiterated during the Council meeting on Monday. This is particularly important for our staff taking part in such challenging missions.”

The director-general added that deployment would be considered only when unhindered access could be provided and security guaranteed. Until then, the OPCW cannot release information about their ongoing investigation into the use of toxic chemicals, reportedly chlorine, for hostile purposes in Syria.