Tareq Talahma, Acting Director, Operations and Advocacy Division, on behalf of Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, briefing to the Security Council on the Humanitarian Situation in Syria

23 March 2023

As prepared Mr. President,

The February 6 earthquakes and their aftermath are a stark reminder of the speed with which tragedy can strike, altering lives in a matter of moments.

As teams continue to clear the rubble, the death toll continues to climb, with more than 56,000 deaths now recorded.

Thousands of survivors continue to seek treatment for physical injuries and trauma.

The physical destruction is astounding. In Syria, the World Bank estimates the total losses at $5.2 billion, with the actual total likely much higher.

Damage to residential buildings accounts for approximately half of the estimated destruction, leaving millions of people in temporary living situations, unable or unwilling to return home.

Recent rains and floods have only compounded the hardship facing many families, forcing many in camp sites to relocate, yet again, to safer locations.

Mr. President,

The immediate humanitarian crisis was staggering, not just in the speed of the destruction but also in the scale of the needs.

The disaster strained existing delivery infrastructure and impacted humanitarian organizations already on the ground. This included death and injury to aid workers, among them UN staff.

In spite of these challenges, within hours of the earthquakes, the UN had released $15 million from its emergency fund, rising to $40 million within days.

Working with partners, we have provided 2.2 million people with emergency food, ready-to-eat rations and cash transfers.

We have carried out more than 1.1 million medical consultations.

And we have provided water and sanitation services to almost 380,000 people.

We continue to conduct daily missions in earthquake-affected areas, delivering assistance, assessing the structural integrity of buildings, and identifying protection requirements.

Blanket approvals for staff movements and assessments have greatly assisted these efforts.

The expanded cross-border modality has also proved essential in north-west Syria. More than 900 trucks with aid from seven UN agencies have now reached north-west Syria from Türkiye via the three available border crossings at Bab Al Hawa, Bab Al Salam and Al Ra’ee.

Mr. President,

Much more needs to be done in the weeks ahead.

Collective shelters must be decongested and consolidated. Adequate housing must be supported. Safe, voluntary, and dignified returns must be facilitated.

Family reunification, community awareness interventions, and other protection services must be extended to address serious concerns, particularly for women and girls.

Public health emergencies must be monitored, particularly the ongoing cholera outbreak. Health, orthopedic, and surgical services must be strengthened.

Mr. President,

The generosity of donors is vital to these efforts. Their support, both financial and in-kind assistance, has been a lifeline for affected communities.

We welcome the EU and International Donors’ Conference that took place in Brussels earlier this week. The €7 billion pledged towards response efforts in both the Syria and Türkiye will be essential to supporting the relief efforts in the months ahead.

Mr. President,

We cannot lose sight of the reality that this immense tragedy struck millions of people in Syria already suffering the poverty, displacement and deprivation of twelve years of conflict.

Some 15.3 million people across Syria—many of whom were affected by the earthquake—have little recourse beyond humanitarian assistance and protection support to meet their most basic needs.

Women and girls have paid the highest price. Targeted violence against health care personnel and infrastructure has impeded vital sexual and reproductive health care, taking a far-reaching toll on the health and wellbeing of women and girls.

Mr. President,

The pressures show no sign of easing.

Food prices have almost doubled in the past 12 months.

Adequate water supplies are becoming less certain in many areas.

Sufficient livelihoods remain elusive for too many people in Syria.

Mr. President,

These deepening needs will require continued resolve from the international community.

The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for Syria is the largest worldwide. Yet at present, it is only six per cent funded.

The generosity demonstrated in recent weeks must be extended to—and not come at the expense of—the ongoing humanitarian response across Syria to ensure lifesaving and early recovery assistance reaches all those in need.

And, further action is required to create a more enabling environment, one where humanitarian assistance can reach communities in a safe, predictable, and timely fashion.

In late-February, a UN inter-agency team delivered emergency supplies during a crossline mission to Ras Al-Ain town in Al-Hasakeh Governorate. The mission was a welcome step.

We hope to see similar progress in north-west Syria soon.

Mr. President,

USG Griffiths just concluded his second mission to the region since the 6 February earthquakes.

The visit provided an opportunity to resume important discussions with government officials and humanitarian partners about issues related to preserving humanitarian space.

It also allowed for further exchanges about the efficiency and transparency of humanitarian programming in Syria.

Mr. President,

The earthquakes brought disaster on top of catastrophe for millions of people in northern Syria.

We have responded to this devastation, mobilizing all available resources to deploy additional staff, raise new funds, and advocate for more direct access.

We will continue to do so to support all people in need across Syria, wherever they are located.

The needs are great, but our resolve also remains steadfast.

Thank you.