A/HRC/20/37 IV. Implementation of Human Rights Council resolution 19/22 13. In paragraphs 3 and 4 of its resolution 19/22, the Human Rights Council strongly urged the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to put an immediate end to violence and all human rights violations, and demanded that it meet its responsibility to protect its population. As noted above, the Government, in its note verbale of 1 May 2012, did not provide information in that regard. 14. Despite the announcement of a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations on 12 April 2012, implementation of the ceasefire remained partial and fragile during the reporting period. Despite some improvements on the ground, the civilian population remained significantly insecure. Violence and killings, including during armed clashes, continued throughout the country. An increase in the use of explosive devices, inflicting loss of life among civilians, was also reported. Credible reports indicated that Government security and armed forces continued, unabated, to commit serious violations of human rights, including by the shelling of civilian areas and the use of lethal force against demonstrators, arbitrary arrests, torture and summary and extrajudicial execution of activists, defectors and opponents. Furthermore, ongoing violations by armed anti-Government forces continued to be reported, including cases of kidnapping and abduction, and the torture and killing of members of the security and armed forces and pro-Government elements. 15. In paragraph 9 of resolution 19/22, the Human Rights Council urged the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to ensure timely, safe and unhindered access for all humanitarian actors and to ensure the safe passage of humanitarian and medical supplies into the country. The Government did not provide OHCHR with information on the status of implementation of paragraph 9. In its note verbale of 1 May 2012, however, the Government stated that the Council had failed to address, in this context, the unilateral sanctions imposed on the Syrian Arab Republic or the attacks by “terrorist armed groups”, which had resulted in the current livelihood crisis in the country. 16. On the basis of a Government-led needs assessment mission conducted from 18 to 26 March 2012, the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation estimated that, at that time, 1 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in the Syrian Arab Republic. The scale and scope of humanitarian operations, however, remained insufficient to meet humanitarian needs, and the humanitarian capacity remained limited on the ground. Further to the needs assessment mission, the Syrian authorities and humanitarian actors agreed about the significant humanitarian needs and that civilians in affected areas needed urgent and effectively targeted aid in terms of shelter, food, health, education, livelihood, agriculture, water and sanitation. As at 8 May 2012, however, the modalities of the humanitarian response were still being discussed with the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic. As a result, civilians continued to bear the brunt of the deteriorating humanitarian situation. 17. In paragraph 10 of resolution 19/22, the Human Rights Council invited all relevant United Nations agencies, in particular the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to provide Syrian refugees, and the neighbouring countries hosting them, with support. In March 2012, UNHCR launched the Syria Regional Refugee Plan to address the needs for protection and assistance of refugees fleeing from the Syrian Arab Republic into neighbouring countries, namely Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. According to UNHCR, as at 9 May 2012, more than 67,668 refugees fleeing the Syrian Arab Republic were receiving assistance from UNHCR and the national authorities in Iraq (3,391), Jordan (15,344), Lebanon (25,922) and Turkey (23,011). The number of Syrian refugees in Turkey had reportedly decreased slightly in the previous month owing to voluntary repatriations. UNHCR had registered 55,198 persons from the Syrian Arab Republic in neighbouring countries. 7