Special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen is working with all parties with a stake in Syria’s political future as it moves toward a peaceful Syrian-led transition, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday.
The Secretary-General emphasized that there were clear “signs of hope” for the future.
The world has an obligation to the Syrian people to listen, act, and work tirelessly to ensure a future where such horrors will never repeat.
In his statement, Mr Pedersen focused on the startling images and stories emerging from the newly liberated prisons of the former regime.
“Despite extensive documentation and testimony, they are only scratching the surface of the horrors of the incarceration system,” he said.
‘Decisive and compassionate action’
“This image is a profound testament to unspeakable suffering and pain beyond understanding. Those detained, their families, and their loved ones endured.
now “Decisive and compassionate actionHe then called on the international community and all relevant parties to provide support to the families of missing and detained persons.
This includes medical care, psychological support, legal support, and safe shelter.
Meanwhile, all evidence of crimes committed in Syrian detention centers must be secured “to help families seek justice and accountability.”
“Explanations of missing parts should be prioritized.Ensuring families receive the clarity and recognition they so desperately need… “Justice for victims and their families is not only a right, it is essential for healing and preventing further violations.”
combined effort
Mr Pedersen also called for the humanitarian needs of those liberated to be prioritized for the “countless” Syrians still arbitrarily detained within its borders by various groups across the war-torn country.
“They should be released immediatelyHe urged all parties to cooperate with UN specialized agencies, including the Independent Mechanism for Missing Persons (IIMP), the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIM) and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria (CoI). With relevant international and national organizations.
“The world has an obligation to the Syrian people to listen, act, and work tirelessly to ensure a future where such horrors will never repeat.“He concluded.
Chemical weapons watchdog preparing to dispatch to Syria
The UN-backed Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is preparing to send a team of experts to Syria as soon as the security situation allows, the arms watchdog said on Thursday.
This is one of the conclusions reached at an emergency meeting held at the request of OPCW Secretary-General Ambassador Fernando Arias.
In his opening remarks, he reminded the council that Syria under Assad has never declared a full weapons program, despite using it several times during its long civil war.
“Over the past few days, the Secretariat has been closely monitoring the situation in Syria,” Arias said.
still unstable
“The country’s political and security situation remains unstable…The ultimate goal is the complete elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons program and participation in the international accountability process for the former Syrian government and other identified perpetrators..”
This process began 11 years ago when Syria first joined the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
The OPCW Technical Secretariat, through its Declaration Assessment Team (DAT), has been working for several years to address gaps, inconsistencies and inconsistencies in Syria’s initial declaration, and the issue has been regularly addressed in the United Nations Security Council.
Mr. Arias said Syria must now “come into full compliance, finally fulfill all its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and abandon its remaining chemical weapons program.”
Following the Security Council’s decision to mandate inspections of Syrian chemical weapons, an OPCW team prepared to depart for Syria on Monday, September 30, 2013 (file photo).
WFP scale-up support
Meanwhile, on the humanitarian front, the UN World Food Program (WFP) is expanding its food assistance program across Syria. 2.8 million people displaced and food insecure People, the emergency food agency announced Thursday.
The country was already deeply destabilized before the regime was overthrown by years of civil war and months of fighting between Israel and neighboring Lebanon over the Israel-Hamas war. in fact Damascus authorities.
“At this critical time for Syria, WFP teams are on the ground working to ensure that the most vulnerable people receive the emergency food assistance they need,” said Kenn Crossley, Country Director for Syria.
a shaky economy
“Right now, Commercial supply routes are at risk, food prices are soaring and the Syrian currency is depreciating.. “With essential items such as rice, sugar and oil in short supply and the price of bread soaring, it is vital that we scale up our support efforts this winter.”
WFP urgently needs $250 million over the next six months to purchase and deliver food assistance for up to 2.8 million displaced and vulnerable people.
The agency already has one of the largest country operations across seven offices across Syria. This presence has enabled WFP to rapidly scale up over the past two weeks to provide ready-to-eat food, food hampers and fresh, hot meals every day to approximately 70,000 people in hard-hit areas.
Food rations and hot meal services provided by WFP before the crisis have already resumed for displaced people in Homs, Aleppo, Raqqa and Al Hasakah after several days of instability and unrest.
Nearly 14 years of war have left many Syrians vulnerable. By early 2024, an estimated 12.9 million people were food insecure, including 3 million who were severely food insecure.
“Food assistance is not only a lifeline to meet nutritional needs in times of crisis,” Mr Crossley emphasized.This is a reassuring presence that lets the community know they are not alone in what can feel like a very vulnerable and isolating moment. “In their lives.”
