Syria: Fragile Progress Amid Escalation Risks & Transition Hopes- Briefing | United Nations

Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Najat Rochdi, today (17 Jun) told the Security Council that “Syria simply cannot withstand another wave of instability, noting that “the risks of further escalation in the region are not hypothetical - they are immediate, severe, and risk unravelling the fragile progress toward peace and recovery in Syria.” Rochdi told the Council that Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, continued his meetings with Syrian officials in Damascus, focussing on the importance of a genuinely inclusive and credible political transition in the country. She said, “the protection and safety of all components of Syrian society and the prevention of incitement of communal tensions are absolute cornerstones for stability,” and pointed out that, “sporadic violent incidents continued in Homs, Hama, the coastal areas, and other regions, including killings, kidnappings, and infringements on individual liberties.” The Special Envoy said, “the southwest saw a serious incident of Israeli artillery fire and airstrikes on military sites and weapons depots across southern Syria, in response to a rare incident of small rocket fires out of Syria into the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan – claimed by two groups unaffiliated with the interim authorities.” She said, the interim authorities had “denied any involvement in the rocket fire,” and added that “last week, there were Israeli incursions, arrests, and drone strikes in Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside.” Rochdi said, “these attacks are unacceptable and must cease.” For her part, Joyce Msuya, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said that the UN and partners continue to provide critical assistance to the people in need. Msuya said, “while the reduction in conflict and growing engagement with international partners are opening new prospects for investing in Syria’s future – we must not forget that three quarters of the population still need humanitarian relief right now. Security remains volatile in parts of the country – including in the coast, the south and the north east – where attacks continue to affect civilians and humanitarian operations. Over 7 million people remain displaced, including many newly uprooted by recent violence.” She underscored the need for more funding, as the humanitarian appeal for Syria has received only 260 million US dollars, just 14 percent of the requirements for the current period. United States Ambassador Dorothy Shea told the Council that the US is working towards ceasing sanctions on Syria.


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