The United Nations Special Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, has emphasised that Syria remains entrenched in profound conflict and disarray. He highlighted the concerning developments faced by Syrian refugees, stressing the need to protect Syrians wherever they are.
In a video briefing to the Security Council today, Pedersen reported that Syria is rife with armed factions, terror groups listed by the Security Council, foreign armies, and frontline confrontations.
“Civilians continue to fall victim to violence, facing widespread human rights violations and enduring prolonged displacement and dire humanitarian conditions,” Pedersen stated. He noted that the threat of regional conflict looming over Syria has not diminished, with an escalation in Israeli strikes on the country.
Pedersen also pointed to the persistent risk of escalation within Syria’s borders amid ongoing hostilities across the northern frontlines, resulting in civilian casualties. He discussed ongoing street protests where people express their grievances, “often facing repressive measures in government-controlled areas.”
He further talked about ongoing repressive practices, including arbitrary arrests, torture, detention, and disappearances across Syria, contributing to a general state of lawlessness, fear, and violence.
Concerning Developments for Syrians Abroad
The UN Special Envoy to Syria warned of “concerning developments” facing Syrians outside their homeland, citing alarming reports of attacks on Syrian refugees, which have triggered significant violence.
“Refugees are apprehensive about the possibility of being forcibly repatriated or pushed to return through increasing restrictive measures. We are fully aware of the enormous plight faced by host countries and strongly call for their support,” Pedersen said.
He emphasised the importance of supporting Syrians who choose to return voluntarily and the need to curb anti-refugee rhetoric and measures. “Syrians must be protected wherever they are, and efforts must continue to create conditions for a safe, voluntary, and dignified return.”
A Long and Arduous Road to Peace
Given the magnitude and complexity of the conflict, “there is no easy and quick solution. The road to peace will be long and arduous, and thus, a specific direction must be pursued,” the official remarked. He stressed the need for a Syrian-led process facilitated by the United Nations, a path outlined in Security Council Resolution 2254.
Pedersen said he continues to explore ideas on how to lay the groundwork for a new and comprehensive approach, pushing urgently for de-escalation towards a nationwide ceasefire, breaking the deadlock on reconvening the Constitutional Committee, and taking confidence-building measures to move forward.
He reiterated that “the conflict is ultimately a political one that can only be resolved when Syrian parties can realise legitimate aspirations and respect Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence, territorial integrity, and restoration.”
He noted that the parliamentary elections organised by the Syrian government on July 15, in line with the current constitution, do not substitute for the political process established by Resolution 2254.
Pedersen emphasised the need to engage all key international stakeholders, addressing relevant concerns within a comprehensive approach to implementing the Security Council resolution, in addition to a strategy that does not exclude any military, political, or economic actors.
In his closing remarks to the Security Council, Pedersen called on everyone to engage with the United Nations “in a spirit of process, realism, candour, and consensus to move forward in the political process.”
“My Children Are Suffering”
In his briefing to the Security Council, Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of Coordination at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stated that Syria is still experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis since the conflict began over 13 years ago.
He reaffirmed that across the country, over 16 million people require humanitarian aid, the majority being women and children.
“The impact of the conflict, coupled with economic difficulties, pressures from climate change, significant reductions in humanitarian funding, and the absence of development programmes for basic services, has never been more evident than during these hottest months of the year,” he said.
During a visit to Hasakah province in northeast Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, met a woman named Amina living in Al-Hol camp with her three children.
“We often go days without enough clean water for drinking, cooking, or washing. The high temperatures make it worse. My children are constantly thirsty, and it is heartbreaking to see them suffer,” she told him.
