Rúben Afonso submitted a written statement to the 51st United Nations Human Rights Council Session regarding the humanitarian crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic, and the urgent need for a political agreement. In the statement, Rúben emphasises the vast scale of people in need of humanitarian assistance, who are food insecure, and who are internally displaced. He expressed concern that there is only one border crossing open for delivery of humanitarian assistance. Rúben urged all parties of the Council to approve a one-year mandate in upcoming sessions and for the mandate to be extended to the Northeast part of the Syrian Arab Republic, not only the Northwest. He also used all parties involved to reach an agreement in upcoming meetings to find a political solution to the conflict.

Read his written statement here.