The UN Security Council discussed the situation in Syria. UN officials warn of political deadlock in Syria Peace and Security
The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire and the political process is at a standstill. This was stated by UN representatives speaking on Thursday at the Security Council. They called for the involvement of all interested parties to find a way out of the current situation.
Humanitarian situation worsens
Martin Griffiths, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, has drawn international attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis. He noted that 16.7 million people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, the highest level since the conflict began 13 years ago.
Moreover, according to Griffiths, the situation is worsening year after year: children continue to die, and women and girls face increasing levels of sexual and gender-based violence.
Also, unstable The economic situation is exacerbating the suffering of the population. According to the UN World Food Program (WFP), the cost of living has more than doubled over the past year, and the situation is unlikely to improve anytime soon.
“More than seven million people cannot return to their homes in Syria, and millions more live as refugees in neighboring countries,” Griffiths said. He emphasized the need to ensure continued humanitarian access for in-country operations and cross-border supplies.
Griffiths welcomed the fact that the Syrian government has extended the use of the Bab al-Salam border crossing and called on it to make a longer-term commitment based on the needs of the population.
Security Challenges
UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said that the political process has reached a dead end. Currently, he said, the parties have not paved the way for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which reflects the roadmap for political transition in Syria. He warned of the risks of a protracted schism that threatens not only the Syrians but the entire international community.
“A large number of local and international actors and terrorist groups remain involved in the conflict inside and outside Syrian territory, in multiple theaters of war,” Pedersen said.
He detailed ongoing clashes in the north of the country and tensions surrounding the aftermath of the war in Gaza, including Israeli airstrikes in Syria, as well as missile and drone attacks from Syrian territory towards the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan and Israel.
“If this dynamic continues, the suffering of the population will only worsen. We could also see serious escalation and further instability throughout the region,” he warned, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
A piecemeal approach “won’t work”
Pedersen also stressed the need to find a comprehensive political solution involving the Syrian government, the opposition, civil society and key international players such as Iran, Russia, Turkey, the United States, Arab and European countries and the Security Council.
“No player alone can overcome the crisis, and no existing diplomatic group can do so. Constructive international diplomacy with the participation of all is the only way forward,” he emphasized.
At the same time, he said, it is necessary to resume meetings of the Constitutional Committee and take concrete measures to stabilize the political situation.
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