Syria

The General Assembly today adopted two resolutions, one concerning the occupied Syrian Golan and the other the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

In Mozambique, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is gravely concerned about intensifying attacks on villages and the rapid spillover into districts considered safe, with nearly 100,000 people displaced in the past fortnight alone. The violence, which began in Cabo Delgado in 2017, has displaced over 1.3 million people.

As Syria seeks to rebuild its economy and establish inclusive politics, the international community must support its efforts, lift all remaining sanctions and protect its sovereignty, the Security Council heard today from senior UN officials as well as concerned Member States.

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the overnight missile and drone attacks by the Russian Federation on several Ukrainian regions, which reportedly killed  at least 25 people, including children, in two residential areas in Ternopil in western Ukraine. Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law.

In southern Syria, despite the $3.2 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan being only one-quarter funded, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to support response efforts. Aid is reaching over 350,000 people every month.

The Security Council decided today to remove two individuals from its Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) and Al-Qaida sanctions list – including the President appointed in the wake of Syria’s December 2024 popular uprising – as delegates widely welcomed efforts to “lift all obstacles” to the country’s economic recovery.

In the wake of dramatic events in December 2024 — when a popular uprising ousted long-time Syrian President Bashar al-Assad — sustained international engagement and urgent sanctions relief are now needed to support the country’s political transition, ensure the meaningful inclusion of women and minorities and defend Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Envoy for the country told the Security Council today.

In the Central African Republic, the UN Mission there continues to support the country’s peace process, including through the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process. From 16 to 20 October, it facilitated the disarmament and demobilization of ex-combatants in Bangui and in Mobaye.

In Gaza, UN partners report that many people are unable to leave the north due to insecurity, and are struggling to survive amid severe food and shelter shortages. Today, the UN Satellite Centre published a preliminary analysis showing damage to 83 per cent of structures in Gaza City alone.

Syrian authorities must prioritize genuine political reforms and build a Government that serves all Syrians, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, as he called on the international community to provide sanctions relief, support domestic reforms and halt foreign interventions to ensure the country’s successful transition.