Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to members of the Security Council at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, New York, Dec 18, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

At the meeting, UN Secretary-General Ban pledged that "the United Nations stands ready to undertake these important tasks." He noted that "the Syrian conflict began with peaceful popular demands for political change, but it soon became defined by internal, regional and international divisions - including in this very Council."

The conflict in Syria erupted in March 2011. The nearly-five-year war has claimed more than a quarter million lives.

Ban urged the Syrian parties to immediately stop the use of indiscriminate weapons against civilians and to halt attacks on medical and educational facilities.

He also asked the Syrian parties to allow unconditional and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid convoys to help tens of thousands of people in need.

According to UN humanitarian agency, some 6.5 million Syrians are internally displaced. About 4.5 million people continue to live in areas that are hard to reach for the humanitarian community, while almost 400,000 of those are besieged.