UN / SYRIA POLITICAL HUMANITARIAN

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UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen warned, “The conflict has not ended yet.” UNIFEED
Description

STORY: UN / SYRIA POLITICAL HUMANITARIAN
TRT: 04:23
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS

DATELINE: 17 DECEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

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Shotlist

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, UN Headquarters

17 DECEMBER, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, United Nations:
“There are armed opposition groups that operate outside of the Military Operations Command – for instance, parts of the Syrian National Army, most of which acts under the auspices of the opposition Syrian National Coalition.
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, United Nations:
“The northeast – as well as in some neighbourhoods of Aleppo city – remains under the control of the SDF, supported by the US. There have been significant hostilities in the last two weeks, before a ceasefire was brokered between Türkiye and the United States along the Euphrates River. A five-day ceasefire has now expired, and I am seriously concerned about reports of military escalation, as well reports of military build-ups. Such an escalation could be catastrophic.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, United Nations:
“Moreover, there is a new situation in the southwest. UNDOF continues to observe IDF personnel and equipment in multiple locations in the area of separation and one location in the area of limitation in the vicinity of the Bravo line.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, United Nations:
“We have also seen reports of the Israeli cabinet's plan to expand settlements in the Golan. Israel must cease all settlement activity in the occupied Syrian Golan, which are illegal.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, United Nations:
“The first major challenge – the conflict has not ended yet. Yes, we are seeing a Syria that is stable at present in many parts. Many in Damascus tell me that law and order improved significantly after two initial days of instability. But stability can be fragile in many parts of Syria.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, United Nations:
“A second challenge is the sheer scale of needs. Syria’s economy has been ravaged by this dreadful conflict, its infrastructure destroyed, 90 percent of Syrians are living in poverty. Let me just stress that these are enormous challenges that will require all of our support.”
14. Wide shot, Security Council
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, United Nations:
“The third challenge is of course political. The Syrian people have sacrificed so much, so that they can determine their own future and realize their legitimate aspirations. We must ensure that the political process remains on track, otherwise I fear new instability.”
16. Wide shot, Security Council
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Thomas Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations:
“Markets, roads, and health facilities are reopening. Children have gone back to school. Aid operations are gradually resuming across most of our hubs, including Aleppo, Homs, and here in Damascus. It is critical that we adapt the humanitarian response to the new – if still rapidly shifting – conditions.”
18. Wide shot, Security Council
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Thomas Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, United Nations:
“Now is also the time for Member States to work on recovery and development support to rebuilding Syria, reducing dependence on humanitarian assistance; and maintaining essential services.”
20. Wide shot, Security Council
21. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Bader Jamous, Chair, Syrian Negotiations Commission:
“From this rostrum, we reaffirm that we will prosecute the regime and its fugitive president, and we will spare no effort to secure justice and to do justice to the victims.”
22. Wide shot, Security Council

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Storyline

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen warned, “The conflict has not ended yet.”

Geir Pedersen and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, briefed the Security Council today (17 Dec) from Damascus, Syria, where they both are currently.

Pedersen told Council members that we must ensure that the political process remains on track, otherwise he fears new instability.

He reiterated that while resolution 2254 identified two parties, one of whom has been toppled and cannot feature in the process, it is still the case that a political transition is needed and that this will require an inclusive intra-Syrian process.

Pedersen said he discussed these elements in-depth with the Caretaker authorities in Damascus.

He underscored that the transition must be credible and inclusive, and there must be a new constitution, in line with resolution 2254.

He also discussed the fact that there must be free and fair elections in accordance with international standards.

For his part, Tom Fletcher said that Syria was already one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, where 17 million people – that’s more than 70 percent of the population – needs support.

The recent escalation has added to these needs with more than a million people displaced in less than two weeks.

Fletcher reported that the Caretaker authorities in Damascus have committed to what will be an ambitious scaling up of vital humanitarian support adding that we have received assurances that they will facilitate the movement of aid personnel and supplies from neighbouring countries – including from Türkiye, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq – for as long as humanitarian operations are required.

Fletcher also noted that aid operations are now gradually resuming across most of our UN hubs, including Aleppo, Homs, and Damascus itself.

Also addressing the Council, Bader Jamous, Chair of the Syrian Negotiations Commission said, “From this rostrum, we reaffirm that we will prosecute the regime and its fugitive president, and we will spare no effort to secure justice and to do justice to the victims.”

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