‘Better future for Syria remains within reach,’ UN Security Council hears

“There is now a genuine opportunity to help Syrians move from survival towards recovery,” mentioned Assistant Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs Indrika Ratwatte, on behalf of UN aid chief Tom Fletcher. 

“This moment requires ambition anchored in realism: sustained humanitarian action, political will and investment are essential to help Syrians move beyond emergency assistance and rebuild their lives.”

Despite indicators of progress in direction of restoration, reconstruction and improvement, “humanitarian needs remain acute, displacement persists and conditions for sustainable returns are still uneven across the country,” Mr. Ratwatte mentioned.

Millions stay displaced

Millions of Syrians stay displaced, each inside Syria and overseas. Since December 2024, some 1.6 million refugees and almost two million internally displaced folks have returned.

As folks return to their communities, entry to fundamental providers, safety and livelihoods is important, and returns and reintegration should stay secure, voluntary, dignified and sustainable, Mr. Ratwatte mentioned.

While help operations are delivering, serving 3,000 communities and reaching three million folks within the first quarter of this 12 months, he mentioned assets stay inadequate, including that “with more support, much more can be achieved.”

To deal with this, conferences between the federal government and UN companions in May mapped out the trail ahead below the No Camps, No Tents imaginative and prescient, targeted on safety, service provision and sustainable livelihoods, alongside Syria’s assertion of nationwide restoration priorities, which gives a transparent nationwide course for restoration and reintegration.

Beyond emergency help

Noting that the $2.92 billion humanitarian attraction is simply 20 per cent funded, Mr. Ratwatte issued three requests for Security Council motion:

• “Help us sustain a humanitarian response that is proving it can deliver. Predictable and flexible funding are essential”
• “We must support Syria’s transition beyond emergency aid by helping address the barriers preventing people from rebuilding their lives”
• “We require sustained investment in recovery and reconstruction, aligned with the government’s “Statement of National Recovery Priorities” and guided by the wants and rights of affected communities

“We must meet urgent needs today while laying the foundations for lasting stability and prosperity,” he mentioned, including that improvement financing, financial restoration and stronger providers shall be important to making sure Syria’s transition is sustainable.

‘Opportunity and fragility exist side-by-side’

Also briefing the Council, the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Claudio Cordone, said “Syria’s political transition is at a critical phase, with opportunity and fragility existing side-by-side.”

Highlighting current conferences in Damascus with ministers, survivors and households of victims of previous atrocities and a variety of civil society and girls actors, he mentioned voting had taken place peacefully up to now weeks, nevertheless, greater than eight months for the reason that primary elections, the People’s Assembly has nonetheless not been constituted, awaiting the Presidential appointment of a 3rd of its members.

“The scale of the challenges facing this transitional parliament cannot be overstated,” he mentioned. “New laws need to be debated and adopted, executive actions need to be reviewed, diverse voices must be heard and progress made on the transition.”

Economic situations stay a key problem for the transition, he mentioned, welcoming Syrian efforts to deal with inflation, entice funding, strengthen private-sector exercise and promote reform.

Kidnappings and day by day Israeli violations

However, safety challenges stay.

Kidnappings, counter-kidnappings and inside rivalries amongst Druze factions proceed to have an effect on the province of Sweida, the place no progress might be seen on the implementation of the 2025 Roadmap of confidence-building and reintegration following a spate of lethal clashes in July 2025, which had sowed seeds of mistrust between Damascus and locals that also persist amid a fragile safety setting.

Meanwhile, Israel stays in violation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, with its continued army exercise and near-daily incursions throughout elements of southern Syria, together with erecting non permanent checkpoints, looking out and detaining of civilians, with some nonetheless remaining in custody, alongside experiences of restrictions on Syrian civilian entry and harm to agricultural lands.

Noting Syria’s restraint and alerts of openness to a safety association with Israel, Mr. Cordone mentioned the UN in Syria is enhancing its efforts to handle the wants of affected populations amidst continued Israeli army exercise and strongly reiterated “our call on Israel to adhere to the 1974 Agreement, release those illegally detained and respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

Terrorist arrests, extremist networks and overseas fighters

To deal with threats from extremist networks, Mr. Cordone mentioned Syria experiences having performed in depth counterterrorism operations, leading to over 230 arrests up to now three months, together with overseas nationals, the dismantling of seven Da’esh-linked cells and the seizure of weapons and tools throughout a number of governorates.

However, Da’esh exercise exterior conventional working areas and its makes an attempt to use governance gaps and native grievances are regarding, he mentioned, highlighting a 14 June assault on a safety headquarters in Raqqa that killed safety personnel and injured others.

Continued concern about overseas fighter networks has additionally emphasised the significance of guaranteeing efficient integration.

Supporting regional stability

With a view to supporting regional stability, Syria affirmed its place of non-interference in Lebanon, the Special Envoy mentioned.

Syrian safety forces launched operations concentrating on cross-border smuggling networks and reportedly blocked makes an attempt to switch rockets into Lebanon, he continued.

“We hope that the recent Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran will be implemented and that greater regional stability can re-enable focus on Syria’s stability and its economy.”

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