Syria: Rúben’s statement
Since 2011, Syria has been in a civil war which had led to the country facing a severe humanitarian crisis. Millions of people in Syria face poverty and economic hardship, food insecurity and lack of access to water. In 2021, the United Nations Security Council passed resolution 2585 which delivered humanitarian assistance to northwest Syria. The Next Century Foundation recognises the positive impact of this resolution and recommends that it be renewed this July. Rúben Afonso, on behalf of the Next Century Foundation, delivered a statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council which expresses our concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Syria and emphasises the Next Century Foundation’s recommendations for further humanitarian assistance.
Transcript:
The Next Century Foundation acknowledges and praises the recent efforts made by the United Nations regarding the Syrian Arab Republic, specifically the Security Council resolution 2585 and the mediation of the Syrian constitutional talks. However, the NCF expresses its concern, particularly regarding the humanitarian crisis. In 2022, 14.6 million people (including 6.5 million children) need humanitarian assistance. 12 million people are severely food insecure and over 90% of the population now live in poverty. In March, Syria registered the highest rate of inflation in the past 30 years. Food and fuel prices are rising every month. Reliable access to sufficient water across the north remains a major challenge, due to the worst drought that Syria has faced in decades. Regardless of the positive effect of resolution 2585, which led to three cross-line convoys delivering aid into northwest Syria in the past months, there are more than 1.9 million people in northeast Syria requiring humanitarian assistance, including over half a million internally displaced persons. Therefore, we respectfully ask the Security Council to renew the resolution 2585, in July. We further recommend for the resolution to be extended to northeast Syria. We equally appeal for all parties of the Syrian constitutional talks to reach an agreement in upcoming meetings, in order to find a political solution for the conflict, in accordance with resolution 2254. Thank you.
