On Friday, UN envoy Geir Pedersen informed the representatives of the member states in the Security Council about the situation in Syria, which has been plagued by civil war since 2011.
Referring to the attack on a car at Damascus International Airport, he expressed concern that the risk of war breaking out in a wider area was increasing, which would also affect Syrian citizens.
In view of this, there has been a call for de-escalation and for this it is necessary to implement a ceasefire in Gaza.
Geyer Pedersen said fighting is ongoing in Syria between government-backed groups and the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Islamic State (Isil-Syria), using heavy weapons, drones and snipers.
In Syria, which is deeply divided and conflict-ridden, millions of civilians live in government-controlled areas, but millions more live in areas where state authority has declined.
In this situation, a regional crisis has developed against the backdrop of the Gaza war, which could have a large-scale impact on Syria. The UN envoy warned that alongside military and territorial divisions, Syrian society is also divided.
“The suffering caused by violent conflict is real and ongoing. “Different Opinions and Visions for Post-Conflict Syria.”
The UN is committed to bringing all parties together in Syria, the Special Envoy said. Syrian citizens are represented from every corner of the country and abroad, including political parties as well as civil society.
A deepening humanitarian crisis
Syria is currently facing a profound humanitarian crisis, with millions of civilians, especially children, facing unprecedented challenges.
Ramesh Rajasingham, director of coordination of UN humanitarian efforts, said 16 million people in the country are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, half of them children.
Due to desperation and need, local families are forced to make difficult decisions, such as sending boys to work at an early age and marrying girls at an early age.
Children are also at risk of sexual violence and other forms of abuse, especially those living in displacement camps after being separated from their families.
The UN official warned that humanitarian needs in Syria are growing, but resources to meet them are lacking. An appeal was made for four billion dollars for Syria in 2024, but currently only 25 percent of this amount has been collected.
Emphasis on the political process
UN envoy Geir Pedersen said he would continue to look for a way forward in the shadow of this harsh reality.
He will soon meet the Syrian foreign minister and is scheduled to meet with the head of the Syrian Dialogue Commission in New York next week. Apart from this, discussions will also be held with other stakeholders and representatives of donor countries.
The UN envoy’s message is clear: the political process under the auspices of the UN must be advanced on three important fronts: reviving dialogue on the constitutional committee issue, undertaking confidence-building measures and finding new solutions for the interests of all parties.