Russia and China have vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on cessation of hostilities in Idlib in northwestern Syria and a rival draft resolution drafted by Russia and China.
At an open session of the Security Council on Thursday, the Russian-Chinese veto blocked a trilateral draft resolution that called on member states to ensure compliance with their obligations under international humanitarian law when taking measures to combat terrorism.
Al-Jazeera correspondent has reported that the tripartite draft resolution calls on all parties to stop hostilities starting midnight on September 21, to avoid deteriorating humanitarian situation in Idlib province.
A competing draft resolution drafted by Russia and China also failed to obtain sufficient votes in the Security Council for adoption, stating that the cessation of hostilities should not include "individuals and entities associated with terrorist groups".
Idlib and its environs are home to around three million people, about half of whom are displaced.
French Ambassador to the United Nations Nicolas de Riviere said in statements on the sidelines of the Security Council meeting today on the humanitarian situation in Syria, that those who destroy Idlib will have to rebuild, and that his country, Europe and other countries will not participate in the reconstruction efforts in Syria, according to his vision.
"Those who object to the peaceful approach and the arrival of humanitarian aid in Syria and are currently leveling Idlib by bombing, will be held accountable and will have to pay for the reconstruction," he said.
Earlier this month, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said more than 1,000 civilians had been killed in Idlib in the past four months, while half of the province's schools were destroyed.
She explained that half of those killed were women and children, and called on the actors in Syria to stop what she called the massacre there.