Tag Archives: Syria

Historic shifts offer Syria a path forward

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The United States, European Union and United Kingdom have taken steps to ease long-standing sanctions – moves that, according to UN officials, could pave the way for long-overdue progress on the political and humanitarian front, provided they are sustained and inclusive.

Speaking to the Security Council from the capital Damascus on Wednesday, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen called the developments “historic,” highlighting their potential to improve conditions on the ground and allow a successful transition.

“They hold major potential to improve living conditions across the country and to support the Syrian political transition, giving Syrian people a chance to grapple with the legacy of misrule, conflict, abuses and poverty,” he said.

The sanctions, imposed mostly during the Assad era, have long been blamed for hindering economic recovery.

Regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Qatar are supporting renewed engagement, offering support to fund public salaries, energy infrastructure and Syria’s obligations to international financial institutions.

National political movements

The easing of sanctions comes amid significant domestic developments, with Syria’s interim government announcing last week the formation of two key bodies: the National Commission for Transitional Justice and the National Commission for Missing Persons.

Both are seen as essential to rebuilding trust and addressing the legacy of enforced disappearances and war crimes that have scarred nearly every Syrian household, Mr. Pedersen said.

He urged continued steps to ensure that the new People’s Assembly is truly representative and that the rights and aspirations of women and girls are protected.

“Syrians also continue to look ahead to the envisaged future constitutional process, which needs to be inclusive of all social and political components in shaping a new social contract and paving the way for the free and fair elections as called for by [Interim Prime Minister] Ahmed al-Sharaa from the outset.”

Years of conflict have left Syria in a state of ruin and over 16 million of its people in need of assistance.

Years of conflict have left Syria in a state of ruin and over 16 million of its people in need of assistance.

Crisis on the ground

Despite political momentum, Syria’s humanitarian crisis remains dire. Over 16 million people need aid and over half the population faces hunger, senior UN humanitarian Ramesh Rajasingham warned ambassadors.

Sectarian violence has deepened the crisis, displacing more than 670,000 people since November, among them 15,000 during a recent flare-up in Druze-majority areas of rural Damascus.

The situation has been further complicated by Israeli airstrikes, including near the presidential palace and during the unrest in Druze-majority neighbourhoods.

UN agencies meanwhile face a severe funding shortfall, having received only 10 per cent of a $2 billion appeal for the first half of 2025. Dozens of hospitals, community support centres and safe spaces for women – especially in the northeast and northwest – have already closed.

“The consequences are already visible and will become more so as time passes and as funding cuts take hold,” said Mr. Rajasingham, who is the Director of Coordination at the UN relief wing, OCHA.

Seize the moment

Both officials stressed that lifting sanctions must lead to tangible progress in recovery and stability.

“The Syrian people have taken heart from the fact that the decisions to lift sanctions give them a better chance than before to succeed against great odds,” Mr. Pedersen said.

“They are looking to the interim authorities to seize this moment and push towards a fully inclusive transition…and to all of us to do our part as genuine partners in support.”

Geir Pedersen (on screen), UN Special Envoy for Syria briefs the Security Council on the situation in Syria.

US implementing sanctions relief

Speaking for the United States, John Kelley, Political Coordinator at the US mission, said government agencies are beginning the process of sanctions relief and restoring diplomatic ties with Syria.

He called on Syrian authorities to take bold steps and show sustained progress on the clear expectations the US has communicated.

This includes, removing foreign terrorist fighters, cooperate with the US and partners to prevent resurgence of ISIS detention facilities, and making peace with Israel through the Abraham Accords.

“We continue to urge the new government to choose policies that will reinforce stability, protect human rights of all Syrians, ensure peace with Syria’s neighbours, develop Syria’s economy and become at long last a responsible member of the international community.”

Syrians uniting for future prosperity

Riyad Khaddour, Syria’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, told ambassadors in New York that his country is committed to becoming a nation of peace and partnership – not a battleground for conflict or foreign ambitions.

“As countries in the region and beyond extend their hands to Syria, Syrians themselves are uniting across all factions, rejecting extremism, terrorism, and hate speech,” he said.

Mr. Khaddour noted that Syrian institutions are committed to international standards, working to improve the investment climate and advancing economic reforms.

He hailed the lifting of sanctions as a long-awaited turning point, adding that it offers “real prospects” to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and accelerate recovery.

“Syrians have welcomed it with great hope, seeing it as a first step towards restoring normal life, reviving the economy, ensuring food security and returning to the path of sustainable development.”

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Guterres condemns violence against civilians in Syria, urges Israel to stop attacks

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UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Friday that the Secretary-General “has been monitoring with alarm the reports of violence in the suburbs of Damascus and in the south of Syria, including reports of civilian casualties and assassination of local administration figures.”

More than 100 people have reportedly been killed in recent days during clashes with sectarian overtones, including in Suweyda governorate.

Call for restraint

Mr. Dujarric said the Secretary-General condemns all violence against civilians, including acts which could risk inflaming sectarian tensions.

In this context, the UN chief also condemned Israel’s violation of Syria’s sovereignty, including the latest airstrike near the presidential palace in Damascus.

“It is essential that these attacks stop and that Israel respect Syria’s sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and independence,” the Spokesperson added.

The Secretary-General unequivocally called on all concerned to cease all hostilities, exercise utmost restraint and avoid further escalation. 

He was encouraged by intra-Syrian efforts to de-escalate the violence and maintain security and stability. 

Mr. Guterres took note of the statement by Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, which prioritizes “dialogue and cooperation within the framework of national unity.” He also appealed to the interim authorities to transparently and openly investigate all violations. 

Rights experts’ warning

Experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council also warned that the recent surge in violence “is deeply troubling” for peace efforts in Syria

The Commission of Inquiry on Syria said the fighting, combined with ongoing Israeli airstrikes, raises the risk of further fragmentation and harm to civilians.

Members noted that hate speech and incitement on social media are fuelling tensions, urging all sides to stop hostilities and commit to dialogue.

While a local agreement has reportedly been reached between Damascus authorities and community leaders, the interim government remains responsible for protecting civilians.

The Commission also called for credible investigations into alleged abuses.

“Impunity for grave violations has in the past been a consistent driver of Syria’s conflict and must not be allowed to persist,” it said. 

“Only by upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice, accountability and reparations for victims and their families can Syria begin to rebuild trust across its fractured communities.”

Independent voices

The Commission of Inquiry was initially established in August 2011 and its mandate has been consistently renewed, most recently in April.

The three Commissioners serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including the UN.

They are not UN staff and do not receive payment for their work.  

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Syria: UN envoy warns of escalating violence in Syria

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He described the latest clashes as “unacceptable” and warned of the risk of further escalation in what he called an “extremely fragile situation”.

Fighting erupted earlier this week in Ashrafiah Sahnaya, a town southwest of the capital, when unknown gunmen attacked a security checkpoint.

The following day, another deadly clash took place in the nearby suburb of Jaramana. In total, at least 16 civilians and security personnel were reported killed.

‘Immediate steps’ needed to protect civilians

“The reports of civilian casualties, and casualties among security personnel, are deeply alarming,” said Mr Pedersen in a statement. “Immediate steps must be taken to protect civilians, de-escalate tensions, and prevent any further incitement of communal conflict.”

The violence comes as tensions reportedly remain high between Syria’s interim Government and Druze communities near the capital.

The Druze, a religious minority in Syria, have been engaged in talks about their inclusion in the new Syrian State, following the overthrow of the Assad regime last December.

Many in the community are reportedly calling for some level of autonomy, concerned over the Islamist background of some of Syria’s current leadership.

Amid the domestic unrest, Israel has also carried out military strikes in Syria, reportedly targeting what the Prime Minister described as an “extremist group” allegedly preparing to attack the Druze population south of Damascus.

A second strike reportedly killed a Syrian security officer outside the capital.

Syrian sovereignty ‘must be fully respected’

Mr. Pedersen condemned the Israeli attacks, saying they must stop. “Syria’s sovereignty must be fully respected.”

He stressed the importance of accountability for those responsible for killing civilians and fuelling tensions.

“There can be no progress without genuine inclusion, trust-building, and meaningful dialogue,” he said.

The Special Envoy welcomed efforts already underway to calm the situation and urged all sides to work together to prevent further bloodshed.

Dialogue, not destruction

With tensions still simmering following last month’s sectarian violence in Latakia, which claimed over 1,000 lives, the UN is calling for restraint and unity at a critical juncture for Syria’s future.

“The people of Syria have suffered too much for too long,” Mr Pedersen said.

“They deserve peace, dignity, and a future built on dialogue, not destruction.”

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Security Council debates precarious path forward for a new Syria

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Four and a half months after the fall of the Assad regime, the interim authorities have begun taking formal steps towards political reform, the Security Council heard on Friday.

These include the formation of a broader, more diverse cabinet and initial plans to establish an interim People’s Assembly.

However, the process remains tenuous and incomplete, with many Syrians uncertain of their role in the country’s future.

Grave consequences of failure

“The challenges are huge, and the situation is extremely fragile,” UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen told ambassadors.

“There is a need for much more political inclusion – and for much more economic action. With a sea-change on both these elements, the political transition in Syria can succeed. Without both, it likely will not – and the consequences would be grave.”

In his briefing, Mr. Pedersen emphasised that Syria’s new leadership must broaden political participation and enact measures that address deep-seated grievances, particularly after the March violence against mainly ethnic Alawite communities in their coastal stronghold.

Aid programmes risk closure

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Over 70 percent of the population is in need of aid and more than half face food insecurity.

Despite some local improvements, especially in parts of Aleppo and the northeast, humanitarians warn that funding shortfalls are threatening life-saving operations.

Joyce Msuya, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, underscored that “we need more funding to sustain this work, let alone scale it further.”

She noted that to date, less than 10 per cent of the funds required for relief efforts for the first half of 2025 have been received.

Hospitals, food distribution and essential services are at risk of collapse without immediate support, she warned.

A woman holds the new Syrian flag outside UN Headquarters in New York.

Syria’s new flag raised at UN

Earlier in the day, Syria’s new flag was raised alongside those of other Member States at UN Headquarters, as supporters gathered on Manhattan’s First Avenue.

The new three-starred flag – one more than the Assad-era banner – was used by groups opposing the old regime and its forces.

More to follow…

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Vice President flags off Jaipur Foot team to Syria to provide artificial limbs to amputees

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‘Nothing is more religious than serving the people in need’ says Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Dhankhar lauds the efforts of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) for their untiring efforts, Says, ‘BMVSS’ service for humanity reflects India’s civilisational ethos of sharing and caring’.

The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today said that “there is nothing more religious than serving the people in need” and urged people to give back to society in their capacity.

The Vice President flagged off a team of eight persons from Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) going to Syria to set up an on-the-spot artificial limb (Jaipur Foot) fitment camp. The team will be setting up a camp in Damascus, Syria to provide 600 artificial limbs to amputees in 42 ensuing days.

 

  The Vice President flagging off the team from Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) to Syria to set up an on-the-spot artificial limb (Jaipur Foot) fitment camp from Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas today.

 

Lauding the efforts of BMVSS, Shri Dhankhar said the organisation, by popularising the Jaipur Foot around the world and providing their services free of cost, has demonstrated India’s civilisational ethos of sharing and caring. He said that, as with their other initiatives, the latest effort will also generate enormous good-will for India.

 

Shri Dhankhar complimented the team for their courage to take up the mission in Syria and wished them all success in their endeavours. He also interacted with the team from BMVSS, led by its founder, Shri D.R. Mehta and some of its beneficiaries using the Jaipur foot.

The Vice President interacting with the beneficiaries of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) using the Jaipur Foot at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas today.

It is notable that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi visited one such centre of BMVSS in Philippines in 2017, and the former Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated a fitment camp of BMVSS in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2019.