– The UN envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, warned the UN Security Council that the threat of terrorism is resurging in Syria, with attacks by Islamic State (ISIS) extremists on track to double this year compared to last year.
– Syria remains in a fragile security situation 13 years after the civil war began, with numerous armed groups operating in the country, including listed terrorist organizations.
– The humanitarian situation in Syria remains dire, with over 16 million people needing aid and 7.2 million displaced. Humanitarian funding is severely reduced, exacerbating Syrians’ suffering from lack of basic services.
– Both the UN envoy and humanitarian chief called for increased humanitarian access and international funding for Syria. The 2024 UN appeal is only 20% funded so far.
– On the political front, the UN envoy urged pursuing Syrian-led peace negotiations involving all major international stakeholders, per the 2015 Security Council resolution.
– Syria’s recent elections were dominated by President Assad’s Baath party and criticized by the US as a “sham” not conducive to a political resolution.
Source: AP
