UN / SYRIA POLITICAL HUMANITARIAN

"The challenges Syria faces are myriad and immense," said UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen, pointing to "an ongoing conflict, a fragmented security landscape, a battered economy, and a population emerging from fourteen years of war." UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:04:24
• Production Date: 12 February 2025
• Asset Language: English; Arabic
• Personal Subject: GEIR PEDERSEN; JOYCE MSUYA
• Corporate Name: SECURITY COUNCIL
• Subject Topical: POLITICAL AFFAIRS
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 3338315
• Parent Id: 3338315
• Alternate Title: unifeed250212b

Description

STORY: UN / SYRIA POLITICAL HUMANITARIAN
TRT: 04:24
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS

DATELINE: 12 FEBRUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, aerial view of the United Nations headquarters

12 FEBRUARY 2025, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria:
“The caretaker authorities subsequently briefed me on these issues in more detail and said that we could expect moves in a very short space of time. And indeed today, the establishment of the preparatory committee for the national dialogue conference was officially announced.”
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria:
“The caretaker authorities told me plainly that there is no policy of revenge or retribution, and they have reportedly taken some steps to hold to account those responsible. They have also released hundreds of detained persons, but there is still lack of clarity on the due process of those detained including access of specialized humanitarian organizations to places of detention.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria:
“The caretaker authorities have made important statements regarding Israel. UNDOF says that the IDF has established multiple positions in the in the area of separation in violation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. Such facts on the ground are not easily reversed. I appeal to the Council to hold Israel to its commitment that this is a temporary presence and stress that Israel must withdraw.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria:
“Let us remember that the challenges Syria faces are myriad and immense, including an ongoing conflict, a fragmented security landscape, a battered economy, and a population emerging from fourteen years of war in a situation of great hope but also division too.”
10. Med shot, Koussay Aldahhak of Syria
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator:
“Dozens of health facilities are at risk of closure. Water and sanitation services have been suspended in displacement camps in the north-west, affecting more than 635,000 people. We are also awaiting further clarity on the implications of the freeze on US-funded activities and associated humanitarian waivers. In 2024, US funding accounted for more than a quarter of support for the Humanitarian Response Plan in Syria. Delays or suspension of funding will affect whether vulnerable people can access essential services.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
13. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Koussay Aldahhak, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syrian Arab Republic:
“Syria has embarked on a transitional phase that was launched and outlined during the Victory Conference held in Damascus on January 29, 2025. The conference concluded with a set of decisions that mark a new era in Syria's political history, including the abolition of the 2012 constitution and all exceptional laws, the dissolution of the People's Assembly, the Army, all security agencies, the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, and the parties of the National Progressive Front. It also included the dissolution of all military factions and revolutionary political and civil bodies and their integration into the state.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council
15. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Koussay Aldahhak, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syrian Arab Republic:
“My government reaffirms its commitment to build friendly relations with all countries based on mutual respect and common interests. It emphasizes that the new Syria will not be a haven for terrorism, nor a source of source of threat to any country.”
16. Wide shot, Security Council

Storyline

"The challenges Syria faces are myriad and immense," said UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen, pointing to "an ongoing conflict, a fragmented security landscape, a battered economy, and a population emerging from fourteen years of war."

Syria remains in a fragile state as political uncertainty and humanitarian concerns persist, UN officials told the Security Council today (Feb 12). The briefing came weeks after a significant shift in the country’s leadership. On January 29, military commanders of several armed factions that helped overthrow former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 declared Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the Security Council-listed terrorist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as Syria’s transitional president.

In his first national address on January 30, Sharaa pledged to form an inclusive government, unify all Syrian territories, and revive the country’s economy. He also stated that the transitional period for organizing elections would take four to five years, describing his vision of Syria as "a republic with a parliament and an executive government."

Briefing the Security Council today (Feb 12) Geir Pedersen said that the caretaker authorities had assured him there was “no policy of revenge or retribution” and that they had “reportedly taken some steps to hold to account those responsible.” While authorities had released hundreds of detainees, Pedersen said, concerns remained over “the due process of those detained, including access of specialized humanitarian organizations to places of detention.”

Turning to regional security, Pedersen highlighted tensions in the Golan Heights, stating, “UNDOF says that the IDF has established multiple positions in the area of separation in violation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.” He urged the Council to hold Israel to its commitment that the presence is temporary and reiterated that “Israel must withdraw.”

On the humanitarian front, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya warned that Syria’s worsening crisis risked further deterioration. She said, “Dozens of health facilities are at risk of closure." “Water and sanitation services have been suspended in displacement camps in the north-west, affecting more than 635,000 people.”

Msuya also raised concerns over the implications of the recent freeze on US-funded aid operations, saying that in 2024, “US funding accounted for more than a quarter of support for the Humanitarian Response Plan in Syria.” She cautioned that delays or suspensions in funding would directly impact the availability of essential services for vulnerable populations.

Koussay Aldahhak of Syrian Arab Republic said, “My government reaffirms its commitment to build friendly relations with all countries based on mutual respect and common interests. It emphasizes that the new Syria will not be a haven for terrorism, nor a source of source of threat to any country.”

Closed-door consultations followed the open briefing.