UN officials demand action on Syria's political transition and aid crisis

United Nations officials have issued a stark warning about Syria's deteriorating situation, urging intensified international support for both political transition and humanitarian response during a critical Security Council briefing. Senior UN representatives emphasized that sanctions and critically underfunded aid operations continue to hamper the country's recovery from years of conflict, creating obstacles to stability in the region that directly affects neighboring nations including Türkiye.

Daunting Challenges in Political Transition

UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Najat Rochdi outlined the immense difficulties facing the political process, noting Syria's struggle to build a new era after "five decades of dictatorship and 14 years of war." She described the challenges as "truly daunting" in fulfilling commitments for an inclusive political transition. While welcoming the removal of sanctions designations on certain Syrian officials as a positive step toward international reintegration, Rochdi specifically called for repealing "mandatory secondary sanctions," which she identified as a "key impediment" to economic revival.

Regional Violations and Humanitarian Crisis

The UN official also addressed ongoing regional tensions, condemning "Israeli military operations and incursions into Syrian territory" as grave violations of international law that endanger civilians and undermine political progress. On the humanitarian front, OCHA's Lisa Doughten revealed the staggering scale of need, with over 16 million people across Syria requiring assistance. Despite improved operational conditions allowing the UN to reach 3.4 million people monthly, she reported the Syria response remains only "26% funded," with winter assistance programs receiving just "12%" of required resources.

Returning Refugees Face Severe Hardship

While acknowledging that more than 1.2 million refugees have returned from neighboring countries and 1.9 million internally displaced people have returned home, Doughten highlighted the severe challenges they face. "In interviews with UNHCR, 70% of returning refugees say they face food shortages," she told the council. Emphasizing that Syrians "do not want to rely on emergency aid," she called for "concrete, targeted and large-scale investment in development and reconstruction" to create sustainable recovery beyond temporary humanitarian assistance.