OCHA tells Security Council: "Syria is facing its highest levels of humanitarian needs"

A woman helps a boy sip water from a plastic mug at Al-Hamra camp for internally displaced people in Syria’s Idleb governorate.

A woman helps a child drink water in Al-Hamra camp for internally displaced people in Syria’s Idleb governorate. Photo: OCHA/Bilal Al-Hammoud

Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria by Ramesh Rajasingham, Director, Coordination Division, OCHA, on behalf of Martin Griffiths, Under-secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

As prepared for delivery

Thank you, Mr. President.

Last week, the Muslim world marked Eid al-Adha. However, for people in Syria, celebrations were marred by the ongoing economic crisis in which already-high prices for food and other key items have further doubled in the past year.

A recent report by the World Bank underscores the devastating effects of years of conflict on the welfare of Syria’s households. The economy – which shrank by an estimated 1.2 per cent last year – is projected to contract by an additional 1.5 per cent this year.

Nearly 13 million people – more than half the population – are already facing high levels of acute food insecurity.

More than 650,000 children under the age of five show signs of stunting due to severe malnutrition, and a third of the country’s children live in food poverty – consuming just two or fewer food groups a day.

The economic crisis, coupled with the ongoing impacts of conflict in Syria and the wider region, is a key reason why the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Programme identifies Syria as a situation of very high concern for worsening food insecurity in the coming five months.

Mr. President,

While humanitarian assistance cannot reverse this crisis, it can save lives and alleviate some of the worst suffering.

Halfway through the year, though, the UN’s humanitarian appeal remains less than 13 per cent funded. This is the lowest level of funding of all ten of our largest global country appeals.

We very much welcome the pledges made at the Brussels Conference last month. It is vital that these are disbursed as quickly as possible. As I said at the conference, if the funding situation does not change, the impact on the people of Syria will be dire.

Although the UN and its partners have so far this year managed to provide critical assistance to some 2.7 million people across Syria each month, this is a substantial reduction from the last year.

The provision of safe water and sanitation services has been disrupted in parts of northern Syria, increasing exposure to health risks in the hot summer months.

Health services have had to be scaled back, and dozens of health facilities risk closure in the coming weeks unless they receive additional funding.

It is to be welcomed that last month, the World Food Programme (WFP) resumed deliveries of emergency food assistance after months of suspension due to funding deficits. But I am concerned that, at current funding levels, WFP will only be able to assist one third of the 3.1 million people who are severely food insecure.

Mr. President,

As we have repeatedly emphasized, making the most of limited resources requires being able to deliver assistance via all possible modalities.

The cross-border operation from Türkiye remains a lifeline for millions in the north-west. In the past month, we were able to move 98 trucks of critical food, health, shelter and other supplies.

The availability of the Bab al-Hawa, Bab al-Salam and Al-Ra’ee crossings has also enabled more than 190 UN staff visits to north-west Syria this year. These have been critical for monitoring and assessing humanitarian projects and ensuring that aid is efficiently reaching those who need it.

This includes projects like a wastewater treatment project in Idleb implemented by UNICEF and partners and supported by the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund, which has enabled regular access to clean water for 250,000 people.

We welcome the Government of Syria’s consent for the continued use of these routes. We hope it will extend its consent for the use of the Bab al-Hawa crossing through which the majority of assistance flows – beyond 13 July, and indeed for as long as prevailing humanitarian needs persist.

The need for cross-line deliveries of assistance is no less critical. Engagement continues on long-delayed missions to Idleb and to the Ras al-Ain and Tell Abiad areas in northern Syria; and on expanding the availability of routes through Deir ez-Zor Governorate, to ensure the more efficient movement of aid.

Mr. President,

Syria is facing its highest levels of humanitarian need since the start of this thirteen-year crisis, and the situation only continues to deteriorate as each month passes.

The need for conditions more conducive to an efficient humanitarian response has never been greater.

This requires absolute respect for international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and unhindered humanitarian access.

It also requires sufficient resources so we can continue to provide critical assistance to the millions of people who need it.

But if we are to start reversing the growing needs in Syria, conditions must also include expanding investment in early recovery efforts across the country, to help build resilience and lay the groundwork for people to rebuild their lives and livelihoods, and restore some resilience.

However, as we have said repeatedly, any hope for a durable path out of humanitarian crisis and towards development depends on a political solution to the conflict.

We once again join Special Envoy Pedersen’s call to all parties to fully commit to the process set out in resolution 2254, and urge the Security Council and its members to support progress towards an end to this crisis.