UNOCHA on Syria

 As delivered

Merci Madame la Présidente [Permanent Representative of Switzerland, H.E. Pascale Baeriswyl],

Madam President,

The humanitarian crisis in Syria must remain a global priority. The reasons are clear:

After twelve years of conflict, the vast majority of the Syrian population continues to face daily challenges to meet the most basic food, health, WASH, and shelter needs. A staggering 15.3 million people require humanitarian assistance throughout the country, representing nearly 70 per cent of Syria’s population.

For the first time in the history of the crisis, people across every sub-district in Syria are experiencing some degree of humanitarian stress.

Some 12 million people – more than 50 per cent of the population – are currently food insecure and a further 2.9 million are at risk of sliding into hunger. In addition, recent data show that malnutrition is on the rise, with stunting and maternal malnutrition rates reaching levels never seen before.

The earthquakes compounded this already bleak humanitarian situation. Over 330,000 people remain displaced, and thousands more lost access to basic services and livelihoods. The situation is still critical for families that remain in collective shelters, camps, and informal settlements. Protection concerns, including gender-based violence, and mental health needs are on the rise. With the water crisis ongoing, the risk of cholera and other water-borne diseases lurks around the corner as the hot season approaches.

The United Nations and partners continue large-scale efforts to respond to the most urgent humanitarian needs. In the coming months and years, support from donors and this Council will be crucial to address ongoing essential needs, including the early recovery response. The preliminary Syria Earthquake Recovery Needs Assessment has estimated almost $9 billion in damage and losses, and $14.8 billion in recovery needs over the next three-year period.

Madam President,

In this context, and despite a challenging operating environment, the United Nations and its partners continue to deliver life-saving aid and protection services to people throughout Syria, wherever they are located, by every means possible.

I welcome the decision by the Government of Syria to extend, until 13 August, the emergency measures implemented since the earthquakes to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, including access for shipment and relief teams via the Al Ra’ee and Bab al-Salam border crossings.

These border crossings have been a vital complement to the massive cross-border assistance operation through Bab al-Hawa, expanding reach and lowering costs.

Using all three crossings, the United Nations and our humanitarian partners have rapidly scaled up the cross-border response: More than 2,330 trucks loaded with aid from seven UN agencies have crossed into north-west Syria since the earthquakes struck.

People inside Syria have welcomed the opportunity to speak directly with the United Nations; many have expressed deep fears for themselves and their children’s future. In north-west Syria, humanitarians will expand the hotline for the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment to answer requests for support, receive complaints and ensure we are listening carefully to what affected people need.

Madam President,

The vital importance of sustained cross-border access into north-west Syria was already clear before the earthquakes. It has only become clearer and more urgent now.

As the Secretary-General has said, a 12-month extension of the Security Council’s authorization of the cross-border mechanism is indispensable. It is a matter of life and death for millions of people in north-west Syria.

We continue to make progress on early recovery and livelihood programming, with an equal share of funding between Government-controlled areas and north-west Syria.

This has become even more important following the February earthquakes: to help the people of Syria recover their livelihoods and the ability to provide even the basic necessities of life for themselves and their families.

Madam President,

The situation in Syria is too fragile, the needs are too great and too many lives are at stake not to ensure sustained humanitarian access via every possible modality, including cross-border and cross-line missions.

In the north-east, the cross-line mission to Tell Abiad was completed last week. This third cross-line mission to Ras al-Ain – Tell Abiad area is a welcome step.

Unfortunately, efforts to restart the vital cross-line missions to north-west Syria are still delayed.

In line with international humanitarian law, all parties must allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need and ensure humanitarian workers the freedom of movement to perform their work.

Madam President,

I am also concerned by the recent closure of the border crossings between Iraq and Syria and its potential impact on the vulnerabilities in north-east Syria.

Any disruption to the availability of essentials will only deepen needs and exacerbate the precarious situation of people living in those areas.

Madam President,

I reiterate: more people are in need of aid in Syria than at any other time in the conflict.

Yet, we are witnessing dangerously dwindling resources for the humanitarian response.

The revised 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan requires $5.4 billion to assist 14.2 million people throughout Syria, across all areas of control. Five months into the year, it is less than ten per cent funded.

The ramifications of this shortfall are very real: the World Food Programme, for example, is warning that at the current rate, 2.5 million people are at risk of losing food or cash assistance from July onward.

We hope the upcoming seventh Brussels Conference, hosted by the European Union on 14 and 15 June, will see generous pledges and swift disbursement of the funding required to support the Syrian people and neighboring countries generously hosting so many refugees.

I call for greater solidarity and urgently increased humanitarian funding to save lives and prevent further suffering.

Madam President,

Syrians need the support of the international community now more than at any time in the past 12 years.

While efforts continue to achieve a lasting political solution, we must ensure that the urgent needs of women, men and children of Syria – life-saving aid and early recovery – are prioritized and adequately resourced.

They are counting on your support to stay the course.

Thank you.

Disclaimer

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.