Humanitarian Needs Remain Immense, Growing in Complexity across Syria, Senior Official Tells Security Council, Noting Shortfalls in Funding
Several Delegate Calls on Israel to Cease Actions That Violate Syria’s Sovereignty, Threaten Regional Peace
The security and humanitarian situations in Syria remain precarious, top UN officials told the Security Council today, urging an end to sectarian violence — particularly involving Alawite and Druze communities — and warning of a deepening economic crisis and financing shortfall that is preventing vital humanitarian aid from reaching those in need.
Geir O. Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, welcomed recent announcements by the United States and the European Union to lift sanctions on Damascus and commended support from regional countries, notably Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Qatar. But, despite these “historic developments”, “Syria faces significant structural challenges, with an economy ravaged by over a decade of war and conflict, and a host of other destabilizing factors”.
He welcomed the announcement by interim authorities to establish the National Commission for Transitional Justice and the National Commission for Missing Persons. “The creation of a dedicated commission for missing persons attests to the centrality of this issue in the Syrian national experience, which has impacted almost every Syrian household,” he said. Moreover, the creation of a transitional justice commission is another “essential stepping-stone” in Syria’s recovery from conflict and restoration of Syrians’ right to truth and justice.
He welcomed the Syrian Women’s Advisory Board’s first meeting in Damascus since its inception in 2016, expressing support to the organization’s promotion of women’s political participation. Urgent legislative reform is critical to rebuilding Syria’s political consensus, State institutions and creating the necessary frameworks on the economy, justice, political parties and elections.
Mr. Pedersen recalled that in late April, tensions dramatically escalated in Druze-majority residential areas in Damascus’ suburbs and then on the outskirts of Sweida Governorate. “The violence caused dozens of casualties amongst civilians, armed Druze factions and State security personnel, with reports of mortar and heavy-weapons fire into Sweida,” he said. Clashes eventually subsided, but tensions remain, with fresh reports of rocket attacks into Sweida last night.
While welcoming Syria President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s statement on 2 May which prioritized “dialogue and cooperation within the framework of national unity”, he said many concerns remain. Alawite students in the coastal regions are reportedly “dropping out of school due to ongoing security threats”. Turning to Israeli air strikes in Syria, he stressed that Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity must be respected. He also expressed concern at reports of recent attacks on Hmeimim Airbase and ISIL’s escalating attacks in various areas in recent weeks, with signs of more coordinated operations.
“Humanitarian needs remain immense across the country, and they are growing in complexity,” reported Ramesh Rajasingham, Head and Representative of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Director of the Coordination Division. Currently, 16.5 million Syrians need protection and humanitarian assistance, over half of the population is food insecure and more than 670,000 people have been displaced since November 2024 — including some 15,000 displaced between 30 April and 6 May from rural Damascus due to violence in Druze-majority areas.
However, despite these and other challenges, he said that “humanitarian operations continue and progress is being made”. More than 1,000 aid trucks have entered Syria from Türkiye since the start of 2025 — “a seven-fold increase compared to last year, as cross-border access remains a cost-effective modality”, he noted. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) successfully vaccinated 3.4 million children in April, and the World Food Programme (WFP) reaches over 1.5 million people each month with critical food assistance.
While stating that “the Syrian interim authorities continue to facilitate our vital humanitarian work”, he reported that only 10 per cent of the $2 billion appeal to reach 8 million of the most vulnerable people in the first half of 2025 has been funded. “The consequences are already visible and will become more so as time passes and as funding cuts take hold,” he said, underscoring: “Funding shortfalls do not mean that humanitarian needs disappear.” Welcoming the plan by the United States to lift sanctions — as well as the European Union’s recent decision to do so — he stressed: “The Syrian people have shown resilience, but they cannot endure this crisis alone.”
In the ensuing discussion, Council members recognized Syria’s historic opportunity to achieve progress and prosperity and to be a factor of stability for the wider region. Georgios Gerapetritis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, whose country holds the Council presidency for May, spoke in his national capacity, calling on Syria’s transitional Government to ensure full political representation for all Syrians. He further called on the Council to strongly condemn sectarian violence, culminating in the death of thousands of innocent civilians, mostly Alawites and Christians.
Speakers also welcomed the lifting of sanctions on Syria, with the representative of the United Kingdom noting that Washington, D.C.’s, move follows London’s decision in April to lift economic sanctions on areas including trade, energy production and finance. “This positive step will create significant opportunity for economic recovery and development across Syria,” he added. “Yesterday, the European Union also agreed to lift all economic sanctions,” added Denmark’s delegate. Unlocking access to private sector materials, technologies and investments will play a decisive role in Syria’s reconstruction, she said. The representative of France added that, without economic recovery, “there will be no sustainable peace in Syria”. “We interpret the announcement of [United States] President [Donald J.] Trump in Riyadh on 13 May as part of the same movement of support for Syria and for its economy,” he said of the European Union’s decision.
Unfortunately, the “plain truth” for the need to lift economic sanctions on Syria “is only now being acknowledged out loud”, while Moscow has been saying it for 14 years, said the representative of the Russian Federation. Lifting sanctions is essential to restoring life-saving health and education services. He further expressed concern about the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, emphasizing that this danger extends beyond Syria to the wider region and the world. He reaffirmed the Russian Federation’s position that Syria’s territorial integrity must be respected and strongly condemned Israel’s air strikes across the country, which he said have paralysed the operations of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). “We must ensure that Israel returns to compliance with the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, halts its shelling of Syrian territory and withdraws its forces,” he stated.
Iran’s delegate emphasized that Damascus has a “right and responsibility” to maintain peace throughout its territory, but remains fragile due to illegal occupation. “Israel’s repeated attacks, including the 2 May air strike near the presidential palace, must be firmly condemned,” he said, adding that these acts are made possible by United States support. “Israel’s continued military actions are blatant violation of international law, the UN Charter and the 1974 Disengagement [of Forces] Agreement, threatening regional peace and security,” added Pakistan’s delegate.
“We call on Syria to make peace with its neighbour Israel and join the Abraham Accords,” said the representative of the United States. He also called on the Government to ensure that foreign terrorist fighters can no longer operate in Syria, prevent a resurgence of Da’esh and assume responsibility for detention centres and displacement camps in the country’s north-east. Noting the recent pledge of sanctions relief to give Syrians “a chance at greatness”, he expressed hope that the new Government will “take this opportunity to rebuild and take the country from being a source of instability to a source of stability”.
Other speakers, including Somalia, who spoke on behalf of Algeria, Guyana and Sierra Leone, commended the decision by Damascus to establish a committee on missing persons. “Addressing the plight of the missing is fundamental to reconciliation and accountability,” he said, also adding that “peace in Syria cannot be imposed from the outside, but must emerge from within, through a process that is truly Syrian-led and Syrian-owned”. Also stressing the importance of uncovering the fate of missing persons, Slovenia’s delegate emphasized that “this is one of the deepest wounds of any war, and it needs to be resolved in order to build a resilient society at peace with itself”.
Panama’s representative emphasized that recent episodes in the suburbs of Damascus and Homs demonstrate the “urgency for the new authorities to promote an environment of security and confidence where all communities — particularly minorities — feel that they are protected, represented and heard within the political process”. The representative of the Republic of Korea added: “It is deeply concerning that additional sectarian violence has occurred merely two months after the coastal massacre”. This latest episode is “particularly troubling”, he said, “as it reportedly stemmed from a fabricated voice recording designed to incite intercommunal strife”.
The representative of China, noting the Syrian interim authorities’ efforts to gain international recognition and support, expressed hope that “they will translate commitments into real action to restore stability”. However, he expressed concern over recent violence in southern Syria, calling on the authorities to ease communal tensions and guarantee the safety, security and rights of all Syrians.
Syria’s delegate welcomed the decision by the United States and European Union to lift sanctions on his State. “As countries in the region and around the world extend their hands to Syria, Syrians themselves are uniting across all components and factions,” he said. They are rejecting terrorism and calls for division. “They are moving forward on the path of building a future based on dignity and integrity,” he added.
The new Syria is on the sincere pursuit of becoming a State of peace “not a battlefield or a platform for other countries’ ambitions”. He welcomed the initiative of Saudi Arabia and Qatar to provide funding for the salaries of the public sector and to back the energy sector. The decision to lift sanctions on Syria marks a long-awaited turning point. “Syrians have welcomed this decision with great hope,” he went on to emphasize. The magnitude of needs in Syria requires an “exceptional international response”, including coordinated and effective assistance in the removal of mines and other war remnants. He emphasized the importance of finding answers on missing persons, which a new commission set up in Syria is aiming to do. This is a part of a long process to achieve national reconciliation, uncover the truth about the crimes perpetrated by the last regime and hold perpetrators to account, he said. The Security Council should shoulder its responsibilities and take firm measures to compel Israel to withdraw from all Syrian territories. Israel’s aggression towards Syria halts progress that Syria and the region aspire to, he said.
The representative of Qatar welcomed Syria’s positive steps to achieve national reconciliation and “lock in” the rule of law. Spotlighting her country’s continued support to Syria, she noted Qatar’s help in clearing Syria’s debt to the World Bank — roughly $15 million. She also welcomed the decision by the United States to lift sanctions on Syria and condemned Israel’s repeated attacks on the country “in flagrant violation of its sovereignty”. Saudi Arabia’s delegate also detailed his country’s support to Syria, welcomed announcements on the lifting of sanctions and called for an end to “Israeli atrocities in Syria and the region”.
So too did the representative of the United Arab Emirates, speaking for the Arab Group, who urged the Council to “compel the Israeli occupation forces to stop these violations”. And stressing that the impact of sanctions “extends far beyond the economic sphere”, he welcomed announcements by the United States and the European Union regarding the lifting of such measures. The representative of Türkiye, as well, both welcomed announcements regarding the lifting of sanctions and called on Israel to “cease its actions that violate Syria’s sovereignty and threaten regional peace and security”.