logo
Syria Is ‘Brimming With Hope And Opportunity' : Senior UN Aid Official

Syria Is ‘Brimming With Hope And Opportunity' : Senior UN Aid Official

Scoop21-04-2025

21 April 2025
'Today, we have a new Syria, one that's brimming with hope and opportunity,' David Carden told journalists at UN Headquarters in New York.
He warned, however, that 'while the levels of conflict have subsided in many parts of the country, the humanitarian crisis in Syria is far from over,' as 16 million people require assistance.
Cross-border mechanism
The country is on a path to political transition following the overthrow of the Assad regime last December and the end of nearly 14 years of civil war. The country and neighbouring Türkiye were also hit by deadly earthquakes in February 2023.
The UN is working with the transitional authorities in Damascus to develop more efficient procedures for aid delivery, address issues such as the lack of public funding, and further streamline procedures.
Mr. Carden was speaking from across the Turkish border in Gazantiep, where a UN mechanism has delivered aid into northwest Syria and beyond for over a decade.
He announced that his position will be officially abolished as of Tuesday – part of the UN's transition efforts aimed at streamlining coordinated response in Syria under the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Damascus, by the end of June.
The current structure – which he later noted was 'rather unique in the global context' – involved having different coordinators outside Syria supporting the delivery of assistance into the country.
More than aid delivery
The top official briefed on the accomplishments of the cross-border mechanism, which was authorized by the UN Security Council in July 2014 to allow aid into areas in northwest Syria that were not under government control and home to more than four million people.
The operation has facilitated the delivery of more than 62,000 trucks of food, medical supplies, emergency shelter and other aid, reaching millions of Syrians each month.
' So far this year, the UN has dispatched 936 trucks with aid for all of Syria through this cross-border modality, which is more than the whole of last year,' he said.
Humanitarian support extended far beyond the delivery of relief items, he added.
Over the years, the UN and partners have helped Syrians to rebuild their livelihoods while also advocating for the protection of civilians in the face of constant shelling and air strikes. They also carried out other activities, including rehabilitating homes, schools and hospitals, and providing critical health education and protection services.
Additionally, the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund has allocated nearly $1.1 billion for life-saving and early recovery projects.
'Times have changed'
Mr. Carden said this was possible through the continuous support of donors and the international community, particularly the Government of Türkiye which has been very supportive of the cross-border mechanism.
'Now, times have changed,' he said, pointing to the 16 million in need in Syria, or some 70 per cent of the population. Most are women and children, and over 40 per cent are in the northwestern cities of Idlib and Aleppo.
Furthermore, despite a gradual increase in Syrian returnees this year, some seven million people are displaced making it among the world's largest displacement crises.
Displacement and devastation
'Since last December, more than one million internally displaced people have returned, but most of whom were displaced in the last two months of 2024,' he said.
'Around 225,000 people have departed from camps, but this still represents only a small fraction of the two million people living in camps across northwest and northeast Syria.'
Last month, Mr. Carden visited a former frontline area in Idlib and spoke to returnees as well as aid partners working to clear minefields and destroy explosive remnants of war. The devastation there 'was absolutely overwhelming and more severe than anything I witnessed following the 2023 earthquakes,' he said.
Meanwhile, the UN and partners 'are doing what they can with the resources available,' but lack of funding is deeply alarming.
Invest in Syria
Humanitarians are seeking $2 billion to support Syrians through the end of June and have so far secured just $179 million – less than nine per cent of the funding needed.
' This is the time to invest in Syria, as the country is in a pivotal stage of transition to help shape a more self-reliant future for its people and to support safe and dignified returns,' said Mr. Carden.
He expressed hope that 'the humanitarian phase will be as short as possible so we can move towards recovery and reconstruction and, in that context, see the further easing of sanctions.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tuvalu Calls For Sea Level Rise Treaty At UN Oceans Conference
Tuvalu Calls For Sea Level Rise Treaty At UN Oceans Conference

Scoop

time4 hours ago

  • Scoop

Tuvalu Calls For Sea Level Rise Treaty At UN Oceans Conference

'Tuvalu calls for the development of an international treaty on sea level rise, to enshrine the legal rights of affected states and people.' RNZ Pacific Tuvalu prime minister Feleti Teo has called for an international treaty on sea level rise at the UN Oceans Conference in France. Speaking to delegates in Nice, Teo said the ocean is critical to his country's economy, culture and survival. He said he supports the UN Secretary-General's call for all nations to deliver on the 1.5 degrees Celsius promise in order to halt the rate of sea level rise. 'In that regard, Tuvalu calls for the development of an international treaty on sea level rise, to enshrine the legal rights of affected states and people, including the principles of statehood continuity and the permanency of maritime boundary,' he said. 'For Tuvalu, building the resilience and adaptability of our coastlines against the impact of sea level rise is our top adaptation program.' Solomon Islands prime minister Jeremiah Manele used his speech to condemn the pursuit of deep sea mining in the Pacific. Addressing delegates in Nice, Manele said his country has placed a moratorium on deep sea prospecting and mining. He said the world's oceans face three planetary crises: biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change. 'Despite this, some are pursuing deep sea mining with minimal regard for scientific understanding, environmental risks and global consensus,' he said. He said the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 – to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources – is off track and underfunded. 'We must move beyond rhetoric to concrete actions that matches the scale and urgency to address today's crisis. 'We must also reform our global ocean governance architecture and shift from harmful exploitation to sustainable use of the ocean.' Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape said his national government does not support deep sea mining due to potentially devastating environmental consequences. However, his stance on the issue is opposite to the one the governor of his country's New Island Province has taken. Governor Walter Schnaubelt recently issued a statement backing Niu Solwara, the company planning to launch the controversial Solwara 1 seabed mining project in the Bismarck Sea by late 2027. Governor Schnaubelt said the new mining techniques employed by Niu Solwara are environmentally safe. Meanwhile, Palau's president Surangel Whipps Jr said financing is key to ensure a sustainable ocean economy that works for the planet. He said the mechanism must include grants for science and governance, patient capital for community-led enterprises, sustainable revenue mechanisms for marine protected areas, and robust local financial systems supporting nature-positive businesses. French Polynesia's president, Moetai Brotherson, spoke of his administration's plan to establish a network of highly protected marine areas (MPAs). This was met with applause. 'Why do we do it? We do it because we are not just looking at the ocean; we are not just seeing it at some place that we can fish. We are part of the ocean, and the ocean is part of us.'

Tuvalu Calls For Sea Level Rise Treaty At UN Oceans Conference
Tuvalu Calls For Sea Level Rise Treaty At UN Oceans Conference

Scoop

time5 hours ago

  • Scoop

Tuvalu Calls For Sea Level Rise Treaty At UN Oceans Conference

Tuvalu prime minister Feleti Teo has called for an international treaty on sea level rise at the UN Oceans Conference in France. Speaking to delegates in Nice, Teo said the ocean is critical to his country's economy, culture and survival. He said he supports the UN Secretary-General's call for all nations to deliver on the 1.5 degrees Celsius promise in order to halt the rate of sea level rise. "In that regard, Tuvalu calls for the development of an international treaty on sea level rise, to enshrine the legal rights of affected states and people, including the principles of statehood continuity and the permanency of maritime boundary," he said. "For Tuvalu, building the resilience and adaptability of our coastlines against the impact of sea level rise is our top adaptation program." Solomon Islands prime minister Jeremiah Manele used his speech to condemn the pursuit of deep sea mining in the Pacific. Addressing delegates in Nice, Manele said his country has placed a moratorium on deep sea prospecting and mining. He said the world's oceans face three planetary crises: biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change. "Despite this, some are pursuing deep sea mining with minimal regard for scientific understanding, environmental risks and global consensus," he said. He said the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 - to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources - is off track and underfunded. "We must move beyond rhetoric to concrete actions that matches the scale and urgency to address today's crisis. "We must also reform our global ocean governance architecture and shift from harmful exploitation to sustainable use of the ocean." Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape said his national government does not support deep sea mining due to potentially devastating environmental consequences. However, his stance on the issue is opposite to the one the governor of his country's New Island Province has taken. Governor Walter Schnaubelt recently issued a statement backing Niu Solwara, the company planning to launch the controversial Solwara 1 seabed mining project in the Bismarck Sea by late 2027. Governor Schnaubelt said the new mining techniques employed by Niu Solwara are environmentally safe. Meanwhile, Palau's president Surangel Whipps Jr said financing is key to ensure a sustainable ocean economy that works for the planet. He said the mechanism must include grants for science and governance, patient capital for community-led enterprises, sustainable revenue mechanisms for marine protected areas, and robust local financial systems supporting nature-positive businesses. French Polynesia's president, Moetai Brotherson, spoke of his administration's plan to establish a network of highly protected marine areas (MPAs). This was met with applause. "Why do we do it? We do it because we are not just looking at the ocean; we are not just seeing it at some place that we can fish. We are part of the ocean, and the ocean is part of us."

Catching Israel Out: Gaza And The Madleen 'Selfie' Protest
Catching Israel Out: Gaza And The Madleen 'Selfie' Protest

Scoop

time15 hours ago

  • Scoop

Catching Israel Out: Gaza And The Madleen 'Selfie' Protest

The latest incident with the Madleen vessel, pictured as a relief measure by celebrity activists and sundry accompaniments to supply civilians with a modest assortment of humanitarian aid, is merely one of multiple previous efforts to break the Gaza blockade. It is easy to forget that, prior to Israel's current program to kill, starve and empty the enclave of its Palestinian citizens after the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, Gaza had already become, arguably, the world's largest open-air prison. It was a prison which converted all citizens into inmates trapped in a state of continual privation, placed under constant surveillance, at the mercy of the dispensations and graces of a power occupying in all but name. At any moment, officials could be extrajudicially assassinated, or families obliterated by executive fiat. In 2008, the Free Gaza Movement successfully managed to reach Gaza with two vessels. For the next eight years, five out of 31 boats successfully journeyed to the Strip. Others met no such luck. In 2010, Israeli commandos revealed their petticoats of violence in killing 10 activists and injuring dozens of others on the Mavi Marmara, a vessel carrying 10,000 tonnes of supplies, including school supplies, building materials and two large electricity generators. It was also operated by the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, a Turkish NGO, being one of six ships that formed a flotilla. Scandal followed, and the wounds on that issue have yet to heal. With the Israeli Defense Forces and its evangelical warriors preaching the destruction of Palestinians along with any hope of a viable, functioning state, an impotent collective of nations, either allied to Israel or adversarial in nature, have been unable to minimise or restrain the viciousness of the Gaza campaign. Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen, have made largely fruitless military efforts to ease the program of gradual liquidation taking place in the Strip. Given such an absence of resolve and effectualness, tragedy can lend itself to symbolic theatre and farce. The Madleen enterprise, operated by the Freedom Flotilla, departed from Sicily on June 1 with baby formula, food, medical items and water desalination kits. It ended with its interception by the Israeli forces in international waters roughly 185 km (100 nautical miles) from Gaza. With a top billing activist such as Greta Thunberg, a French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan, and journalists in the crew, including Al Jazeera's Omar Faiad, this was not your standard run of the mill effort. Celebrities, when they throw themselves at ethical and moral problems, often risk trivialising the cause before the bright lights, gilding, if not obscuring the lily in the process. Thunberg, for all her principles, has become a professional activist, a superstar of the protest circuit. Largely associated with shaming climate change denialists, laziness on the part of officials to deal with dense carbon footprints, her presence on the Madleen crew is a reminder that calculated activism has become a media spectacle. It is a model, an IKEA flatpack version, to be assembled on sight, an exportable product, ready for the journey. This is not to be flippant about Thunberg, or the broader purpose involved here. Her presence, and those engaged in the enterprise, are dangerous reminders to the Israeli project in Gaza. Had they been wise, the bureaucrats would have let stoic silence render the affair a media event, one filed in the library of forget me, white noise articles that have become the stock and trade of an overly crowded infosphere. But the criminal instinct, or at least one guiltily prone towards one, is garrulous. The chatter can never stop, because the justifications for such behaviour never end. Israeli's Foreign Ministry, for instance, thought it wise to dismiss the entire effort of what it called the 'celebrities yacht' as a 'media gimmick for publicity (which includes less than a single truckload of aid) – a 'selfie yacht'.' Perfectly capturing Israel's own abominable record in supplying humanitarian aid in dribs and drabs to the residents of Gaza, when it bothered to, the ministry goes on to fabulise about 1,200 aid trucks and 11 million meals supposedly sent to those in the Strip, never mentioning the killing of those seeking the aid by IDF personnel, the enlistment of rogue Palestinian clans, and the sketchy background of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Defence Minister Israel Katz also issued a statement declaring that Israel would 'not allow anyone to violate the naval blockade on Gaza, the primary purpose of which is to prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas, a murderous terror organisation that holds our hostages and commits war crimes.' In responding to the vessel, the Israelis did not disappoint. They added to the scene with accustomed violence, but the publicity wonks were aware that killing Thunberg and treating the rest of the crew like any other member of displaced persons at Khan Younis did not seem kosher. The infliction of suffering had to be magisterially restrained, a gold class privilege delved out by the superior ones. No missiles or armed drones on this occasion were used. Instead, the twelve member crew were taken to the port city of Ashdod, 30km north of Gaza, where prison authorities had been instructed by Israel's dogmatic National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to hold them in solitary confinement. A number, including Thunberg, have been deported. Others are still being held, purportedly for refusing to sign paperwork authorising their deportation. As the formalities are being chewed over, the broader designation of the effort by the Madleen and her crew as those of a 'selfie yacht' offer the pool's reflection to Israeli authorities: how the IDF took selfies of their atrocities, filming with haughty and avenging pride the destruction of Palestinian civilian infrastructure and the moonscape of their creation; how Israeli officials, such as the former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant felt comfortable claiming the Jewish state was 'fighting against human animals'. This was one occasion where a celebrity venture, as small it was, proved worthy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store