Syria Risks Grave Division and Destruction, Security Council Hears
December 3, 2024
New York, USA – The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria and warned of the risks of further division and destruction in the war-torn country.
In a briefing to the Council, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said that the situation in Syria was “bleak and getting worse.” He warned that a “real and growing risk” existed of the country’s fragmentation into separate zones controlled by different armed groups.
“Syria is at a crossroads,” Pedersen said. “The path to peace is narrow and difficult, but it is not impossible. The alternative is continued conflict and destruction, with devastating consequences for the Syrian people and the region.”
The Security Council meeting was held as part of a regular review of the implementation of Resolution 2254, which was adopted in December 2015 and called for a political solution to the Syrian conflict.
Pedersen said that while some progress had been made in implementing the resolution, “much more needs to be done.” He called on the Syrian parties to recommit to the political process and to engage in good faith negotiations.
The Council also heard from the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Mark Lowcock. He said that the humanitarian situation in Syria was “catastrophic” and that millions of people were in need of assistance.
“We are seeing some of the worst levels of food insecurity and malnutrition that we have ever seen in Syria,” Lowcock said. “Children are dying of hunger and disease, and families are being forced to make impossible choices just to survive.”
Lowcock called for an end to the siege of eastern Ghouta, a rebel-held area near Damascus, where an estimated 400,000 people are trapped. He said that the situation in eastern Ghouta was a “humanitarian nightmare” and that all parties to the conflict must allow humanitarian organizations access to the area.
The Security Council condemned the ongoing violence in Syria and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The Council also reiterated its support for the UN’s efforts to promote a political solution to the conflict.
The meeting of the Security Council came amid a renewed push for peace in Syria. The United States and Russia, which have been the main international players involved in the conflict, are reportedly working on a new proposal for a political settlement.
However, it remains unclear whether the Syrian parties are willing to engage in serious negotiations. The Syrian government has repeatedly rejected calls for a political transition, and the opposition is deeply divided.
The conflict in Syria began in 2011 with anti-government protests. The government responded with a brutal crackdown, which sparked an armed uprising. The conflict has since escalated into a full-blown civil war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions more.
Syria risks grave division and destruction, Security Council hears
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