After 14 years of conflict, the UN calls on the international community to support the Syrians. In this picture: destroyed buildings in Ghouta, Syria. Photo from the archive. UN Secretary-General: Syria’s unity and sovereignty must be restored Peace and security
Syria is experiencing a historic moment. After 14 years of conflict that has left countless victims and destruction, the situation in the country is changing at an incredible speed. The release of political prisoners, changes in the balance of power and calls for transition processes create a unique opportunity for a new era of peace, justice and reconstruction, but uncertainty remains.
UN Secretary-General: “Syria’s future must be determined by the Syrians themselves”
“After 14 years of brutal war and the fall of a dictatorial regime, the people of Syria now have a historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future,” the UN Secretary-General’s press service said in a statement. “Syria’s future must be determined by the Syrians themselves, and my Special Envoy will work with them to achieve this goal.”
After 14 years of brutal war and the fall of a dictatorial regime, the people of Syria now have a historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future
According to António Guterres, much work needs to be done to ensure an orderly political transition to renewed institutions. He reiterated his call for calm and non-violence on the part of the parties, as well as for the protection of the rights of all Syrians without discrimination. “…the inviolability of diplomatic and consular posts and their staff must be respected at all times in accordance with international law,” the UN chief added.
He also stressed that “the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Syria must be restored.”
Humanitarian Aid in Crisis
“Events in Syria are unfolding at breakneck speed. More than a decade of conflict has forced millions of people to flee their homes, and many more are now at risk,” UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher said on his social media page X. He stressed that the UN will respond “wherever, whenever and in whatever way possible” to support people who need help. Fletcher said that reception centers have already been set up in Syria, as well as supplies of food, water, fuel, tents and blankets.
The UN Humanitarian Affairs chief called on all parties to the conflict to honour their commitments: “It is essential to protect civilians, including aid workers, to enable humanitarian operations, to protect civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals, and to allow people who have fled the violence to return home in safety and voluntarily.”
A Call for Peace and Reconciliation
“Today marks a turning point in the history of Syria,” said Geir Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria. “This is a country that has endured almost 14 years of unrelenting suffering and unimaginable loss,” he said. “Let me once again express my profound solidarity with all those who have suffered death, destruction, imprisonment and unimaginable human rights violations.” Pedersen noted that “this dark period has left deep scars,” while “cautiously” expressing hope that “an era of peace and reconciliation” lies ahead for Syria.
For those who were forced to flee their homes, this moment renews hope of returning to the homes they lost
“For those displaced, this moment renews hope to return to the homes they have lost. For families torn apart by war, there is hope for reunification. The opening of prisons reminds all those unjustly detained, as well as the families and loved ones of those detained and missing, that justice is inevitable,” the Special Envoy added.
He called on all parties to the conflict to avoid bloodshed, focus on dialogue and respect international humanitarian law. “Stable and inclusive transitional mechanisms must be implemented without delay. This is a chance to build a united and peaceful Syria,” Pedersen stressed.
Recall that the current offensive on government-controlled Syrian territories, which has changed the balance of power, was launched under the leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants, a group under sanctions by the Security Council.
Answering journalists’ questions about the prospects for new negotiations on Syria, Pedersen noted that the fact that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is officially included in the list of terrorist organizations complicates the possibilities of such a process, so it is too early to talk about the timing and format now.
Protection of Human Rights
“The Syrian people must be able to perceive this historic moment as the end of decades of repression by the state,” Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Chairman of the UN Independent Inquiry Commission on Syria, emphasized on Sunday. “The release of people who have been arbitrarily imprisoned for decades from the notorious Saydnaya prison is a scene that millions of Syrians could not have imagined just a few days ago.”
The release of people arbitrarily detained for decades from the notorious Saydnaya prison is a scene that millions of Syrians could not have imagined just a few days ago
The Commission statement stressed the importance of protecting all evidence of the “crimes and abuses” committed in Syria. “Now that the cells and archives have been opened, the groups that have seized control of the detention facilities have a responsibility to handle the documents with care,” said Commission member Lynn Welchman. According to her, the data could help in the search for tens of thousands of missing people.
Hanni Megali, another member of the commission, added that those released from illegal detention need medical and psychological care, as well as assistance in reuniting with their families. “Now is a chance to advance the search for the missing to a whole new level,” he stressed.
The members of the Commission called for independent humanitarian workers and human rights defenders to be granted access to the country, including to places of detention. “Both the opposition and government leaders have made statements reaffirming their commitment to maintaining good order and protecting civilians, which is encouraging. Now their words must be backed up by action,” the statement said.
The UN Independent Commission also warned all participants in the current events in Syria of the need to prevent looting and destruction and to protect the property of hundreds of thousands of displaced persons. The Commission recalled that similar phenomena have been observed in Syria in recent years following changes in territorial control and mass displacement of populations, expressing hope that they can be avoided this time.
International support for the Syrian people
The UN calls on the international community to support the Syrian people at this critical moment. “Today, we honor the memory of those who have suffered for decades by committing to help Syrians build a Syria where justice, freedom and prosperity are a reality for all,” said UN Special Envoy for Syria Pedersen.