Recalling that Syria is “a hot conflict, not a frozen conflict,” he listed a number of threats from the war, including increased air strikes, clashes increase in the northeast, “regular incidents between or involving international parties”, as well as terrorism.
“My message today is simple: focus on Syria.” Mr. Pedersen, speaking from Geneva.
“The current strategic stalemate and Syria’s absence from the headlines should not mislead anyone that the conflict requires less attention or resources, or that a political solution not urgent”.
More Syrians than Ukrainians emigrate
Syria also remains one of the greatest humanitarian crises of this era, he said, and suffering is at its highest since the war began 11 years ago.
“While war displacement in Ukraine is catching up catastrophically, Syria remains the largest displacement crisis in the world, with 6.8 million refugees and 6.2 million IDPs ( internally displaced people) – half the population before the war, a whole generation was born. and grew up in replacement. ”
New political negotiations
Mr. Pedersen updated the ambassadors on the work of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, whose efforts contribute to a peaceful resolution of the war and future political reform.
The Commission was made up of an equal number of representatives from the Government, the opposition and civil society, known as the “Intermediate Third”.
During the most recent session, held in Geneva last month, the delegations were expected to submit revised texts reflecting their discussions and the amendments to be submitted by the Commission members. discussion on the last day.
“I can report that the delegations have proposed at least some amendments to some of the documents presented. Some of the modifications shown here represent an attempt to reflect the content of the discussions and narrow the differences. However, the others had no change at all. ”
Mr. Pedersen sent out invitations for the next session of the Commission, which will be held from 28 May to 3 June. “In doing so, I have affirmed the methodology, including my expectation of submitting revisions by Thursday to reflect the content of the discussion, and I have emphasized the importance of implementing this review. this hope,” he say.
The humanitarian crisis continues
On the humanitarian front, the UN envoy called for expanding cross-border and cross-border supportand emphasizes the need to address the plight of tens of thousands of Syrians still detained, kidnapped or missing.
UN Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs, Joyce Msuya, who also informed the ambassadors, warning that “Syria is on the verge of becoming another forgotten crisis” even if millions of people there struggle every month to survive.
The economic crisis continues unabated, while food and fuel prices rise, impacting water and sanitation supplies as well as other basic services.
As Syrians face a bleak future, Humanitarians are also facing the depletion of resources.
“We simply don’t have the money we need,” she said straight. “For too many people, we cannot provide the bare minimum of support. Obviously, we cannot continue to do business as usual. We must support Syrians who are in need of finding a more sustainable path forward.”
Cross-border aid
In recent months, three convoys of cross-border convoys have delivered aid into northwestern Syria, where more than four million people need aidwith the hope of rolling out more in May.
While praising this “important progress,” Ms.uya stressed that it was modest compared to the enormous needs.
Regarding the situation in northeastern Syria, where opposition fighters are stationed in the Idlib region, she said the UN should also be given space to coordinate humanitarian response operations from within the country from its hub in Qamishli. .
Referring to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms Security Council to “maintain consensus” on renewing its resolution on cross-border aid delivery in July.
