New York: A senior UN official has issued a stern warning regarding the potential impact of regional escalation on Syria, as the nation continues navigating its political transition following the ousting of the Assad regime last December and enduring nearly 14 years of civil conflict. Syria is in no position to endure another wave of instability, according to UN Deputy Special Envoy Najat Rochdi during her briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday.
According to United Nations, Ms. Rochdi emphasized that the risks of further regional escalation are not merely hypothetical but are immediate and severe, potentially unraveling the fragile progress toward peace and recovery in Syria. She provided an update on the Special Envoy's recent engagements, which included meetings with senior officials in Damascus, such as interim foreign minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. The discussions centered on recent positive shifts in international relations and the importance of prioritizing domestic affairs to ensure a genuinely inclusive political transition in which all Syrians have a stake.
Ms. Rochdi underscored the constructive and cooperative tone of the meetings with Syrian officials, who shared a mutual interest in strengthening engagement with the United Nations across various sectors. Particular attention was given to the next steps in the transition, including coordinating efforts with newly established committees on transitional justice and missing persons.
One of the significant next steps is establishing a new People's Assembly as the transitional legislative authority. Ms. Rochdi welcomed the recent presidential decree announcing the appointment of a supreme committee for elections to the Assembly.
Turning to developments in the northeast, Ms. Rochdi referred to the agreement reached on March 10 between interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate the Kurdish-led group into the national army. She emphasized this agreement presents a historical opportunity to address one of the key outstanding issues in the conflict and restore Syria's sovereignty and unity, a priority also discussed with interim Foreign Minister Shaibani.
She also welcomed recent detainee exchanges and the cooperation that enabled several Syrian families at the Al-Hol camp to return to the northwest. Ms. Rochdi stressed the importance of negotiations progressing earnestly, with bold steps and a spirit of compromise from both sides, to implement the March 10 agreement. This is crucial for stability in Syria and the region, for restoring Syria's sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity, and for the overall political transition's success.
Ms. Rochdi noted sporadic violent incidents in Homs, Hama, and other regions, including killings, kidnappings, and infringements on individual liberties. Concerns were also raised about ongoing attacks targeting specific communities and groups, including Alawites, Druze, and women. While these incidents did not appear to be systematic or part of official policy, they highlighted the persistent challenges faced by the interim authorities in controlling certain groups.
Other security challenges also persist, with sporadic acts of violence this month, including incidents at a border post with Iraq and in Deir-ez-Zor and rural Homs. The southwest experienced a serious incident involving Israeli artillery fire and airstrikes on military sites across southern Syria. Ms. Rochdi stressed that Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity must be respected, along with the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.
Before concluding, Ms. Rochdi reported that nearly 600,000 people are estimated to have returned to Syria in the past six months despite the fragile security and socioeconomic situation. The UN continues to support international actions that contribute to Syria's economic reactivation, including a six-month waiver of some US sanctions, the EU’s lifting of economic sanctions, and authorized transactions by the UK to facilitate commercial activity in key sectors.
Meanwhile, three-quarters of Syria's population still requires humanitarian aid, according to UN deputy relief chief Joyce Msuya. Unexploded ordnance continues to pose a significant threat, with at least 414 people killed since December and nearly 600 injured. A worsening cholera outbreak and the region's worst dry spell in over three decades further compound the humanitarian crisis.
Ms. Msuya stated that the UN and its partners continue to provide critical assistance and are transitioning to a more effective humanitarian coordination model. Nonetheless, more funding is needed, as the humanitarian appeal has received only $260 million, just 13% of the required amount for the period.