UN urges de-escalation as humanitarian crisis deepens in Syria

New Delhi, Dec 13: The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has expressed grave concern over recent violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Speaking through his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, at a daily press briefing, Guterres condemned the escalating violence across Syria, with particular alarm over the hundreds of Israeli airstrikes targeting various locations.

The Secretary-General emphasised the urgency of de-escalating hostilities throughout the country and called for adherence to the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. He urged all parties to uphold their obligations under this agreement, including withdrawing unauthorised forces from the area of separation and ensuring the stability of the Golan region.

The Syrian conflict, now in its thirteenth year, began in 2011 as peaceful demonstrations against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime during the wave of Arab Spring uprisings. In response the adminstration’s suppression of protests escalated into a civil war leading to various domestic factions, extremist groups, and international actors.

Over time, the conflict fragmented, with multiple armed groups vying for control, supported by external powers such as Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the United States. This protracted war has left over half a million dead, displaced millions internally and internationally, and devastated Syria’s infrastructure and economy, creating one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.

The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen,  according to the spokesperson of the UN plans to visit Jordan over the weekend to engage with stakeholders.

In his statement, according to the spokesperson, Pedersen highlighted the harrowing conditions in detention facilities like Sednaya, describing them as emblematic of the “unimaginable barbarity” Syrians have endured for years.

He called for urgent support for families of the detained and missing, including medical care, legal aid, and shelter.

Pedersen also asked about the need to preserve evidence of atrocities to ensure accountability under international humanitarian law.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that over 1.1 million people have been displaced since late November due to continuing fighting that has led to food shortages, fuel scarcity, and prolonged power outages. These massive shortages are compounding the challenges faced by those in conflict-affected areas like Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama. In Aleppo alone, recent fighting near the Tishreen Dam has disrupted access to water and electricity for over 400,000 residents.

Despite the challenges, humanitarian efforts persist where security conditions allow. The UN and its partners have provided food aid to more than 700,000 people in northwestern Syria and continue to distribute essential supplies to displaced populations in collective shelters. However, access remains limited in parts of northeastern Syria due to movement restrictions and ongoing reports of looting.

Media reports suggest that a crisis summit on Syria is set to take place in Jordan over the weekend, bringing together diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, the UAE, and other key regional and international actors, including the UN and the European Union.

The summit, in its agenda, plans to address the worsening situation and explore pathways to a sustainable resolution.

The Secretary-General reiterated that the world owes it to the Syrian people to act decisively to prevent further suffering. “The unimaginable horrors of this conflict must never be allowed to recur,” he said, emphasizing the need for inclusive and credible transitional arrangements to restore stability and hope for Syria’s future.