Syrians facing ‘ever worsening’ conditions, top UN officials warn

Syrians are facing an "ever worsening humanitarian crisis" amid the ongoing 12-year-long conflict, top UN officials told the Security Council on Thursday, as the General Assembly adopted a resolution to create a first-of-its-kind institution to address the issue of more than 100,000 people still missing in the country. "The violence and suffering of the Syrian people remind us of what is at stake as diplomatic efforts continue on Syria," said Najat Rochdi, UN Deputy Special Envoy for the country. "Ultimately, **we need a nationwide ceasefire** in line with Security Council resolution 2254." ## **Worsening crisis** Briefing on current conditions, she said recent reports have tracked **deadly drone attacks** , shelling, **terrorist attacks** , and a spate of pro- Government **airstrikes**. "Syrians face an **ever-worsening humanitarian crisis** ," she said. Against this backdrop, Syrians still face massive displacement, an acute economic crisis, and the **tragedy of the detained, disappeared, and missing** , she said. "All of these factors show us why it is so important for renewed diplomacy to translate into **real solutions** to meet the immediate concerns of the Syrian people, build some trust and confidence among the parties, and move forward towards a political solution," she stressed. "Syrians' needs must be at the centre of our approach, and **humanitarian action must be depoliticized** ," she added.  UN Photo/Manuel Elías Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefs the Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria. ## **Humanitarian update** Martin Griffiths, the UN Humanitarian Affairs chief and Emergency Relief Coordinator, echoed that call. "Twelve years of conflict, economic collapse, and other factors have pushed **90 per cent of the population below the poverty line** ," he said, adding that a recent visit to the Syrian capital of Damascus left him "with a greater sense of the profound humanitarian challenges but also the urgent opportunities facing Syria". Amid the ongoing violence, **sharply rising food prices** , recovery from the devastating earthquakes in February, and a spreading **cholera outbreak** , he said the humanitarian community's "best chance" to improve the future of the Syrian people is further expanding early recovery activities. ## **Cross-border aid lifelines** Equally important is the Council's **12-month renewal of its resolution on cross-border operations** , which will improve humanitarian conditions, he said. Tweet URL > UNOCHA Calling for increased international support, he said the UN and its partners currently "have **limited means to help the most vulnerable** people in Syria", with the $5.4 billion UN humanitarian response plan less than 12 per cent funded. He said a **$200 million deficit** will force the World Food Programme (WFP) to slash by 40 per cent its emergency food aid to Syrians for next month. "The **humanitarian response in Syria is at a critical juncture** , as is the future of Syria itself," he said. "Considerable challenges are apparent, but so are **important opportunities** if we can **leverage recovery funding** , if we can continue to be present in northwest and northeast Syria, and if we can turn our attention to sectors which have such a central role in determining basic needs", such as electricity and water. "We can only address these issues if we can make our presence one of partnership and support to the people who suffered these many years," he said. ## **Finding 100,000 missing Syrians** On Thursday afternoon, the UN General Assembly adopted a draft resolution to establish a first-of-its-kind institution that will work to reveal the fate of an estimated 100,000 people **missing or forcibly disappeared** in Syria. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 83 in favour to 11 against, with 62 abstentions. Ahead of the vote, Deputy Special Envoy Rochdi had told the Security Council that many of the families of the missing were looking to the world body's vote today "with hope that a new entity dedicated to the issue of missing persons in Syria could bring some measure of relief" to those in and outside the country "who have been demanding their right to know the truth". ## **Security Council extends UNDOF mandate** In other business, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Disengagement Force (UNDOF), established in 1974 to, among other things, maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Syria. For more details on this and other meetings occurring throughout the UN system, visit our dedicated UN Meetings Coverage page.

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