Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 11th March. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday said that support provided to Syria after deadly earthquakes must be directed towards finding a political solution to the civil war, which is going on for 12 years now.
Guterres said “Now is the time for us to act in unison, to secure a nationwide ceasefire, advance the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, and create the conditions necessary for the voluntary return of refugees in safety and dignity, with our strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Syria, and to regional stability,” in a statement issued by UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haw in New York.
He noted that this Saturday, 11 March, “marks 12 years of grinding conflict, systematic atrocities, and untold human grief in Syria.”
The tragedy also hit the worsening economic conditions, taking a toll on communities ravaged by war and displacement, he added.
Damage has been worst in the northwest, where more than four million people were relying on aid to survive.
“As we mourn all those who lost their lives and expand humanitarian operations across Syria, we must ensure continued access using all modalities and sufficient resources to meet the needs of all those affected,” he said.
He said this support also includes early recovery assistance, which builds resilience while addressing immediate life-saving needs.
SG underscored the urgency of guaranteeing cross-border aid access from Türkiye to the northwest for 12 months.
“The support provided in the aftermath of these earthquakes must be channeled into renewed energy on the political track, to address the fundamental issues underpinning the Syria conflict,” he stressed.
He said he remains convinced that reciprocal and verifiable steps by the Syrian parties, and among key international stakeholders, can unlock the path to sustainable peace.
Collective action is needed to end the arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of tens of thousands of people in Syria, he continued, noting that the issue affects millions of victims, survivors, and families on all sides.
He called for the UN General Assembly to establish a new international body to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons.
“Syrians have been victims of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law on a massive and systematic scale,” he said.
“These crimes have killed hundreds of thousands, displaced half the population, and left deep scars, visible and invisible. There can be no impunity if we want to secure a path to sustainable peace,” he concluded.
Comments are closed.