News (Consolidated) - UNSOM

Arabic version Madam President, 1. On 30 October, 150 Syrian men and women gathered in Geneva to launch a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned, credible, balanced and inclusive Constitutional Committee facilitated by the United Nations. There were 50 members nominated by the Government of the Syrian Arab…

Hi, good afternoon. We have just concluded the second session of the Constitutional Committee. It was not possible to call for a meeting of the Small Body of 45, because there has not been an agreement on the agenda. The two Co-Chairs have been speaking to you during the week and explained their…

Madame President, 1. One year ago, many believed that the Syrian conflict was winding down. Yet the past 12 months have seen a steady stream of violence, punctuated by escalations, that continue to this day, across many areas of Syria – such as the northwest, the northeast and the south. Proscribed…

Khawla Matar United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Syria BRIEFING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL 29 January 2020 Mr. President (Amb. Dang Dinh Quy, Vietnam), 1. It is an honor for me to brief this Council today. The Special Envoy is in Damascus where he is seeking to de-escalate the situation in the…

The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the ongoing military escalation in northwest Syria and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities. He reaffirms that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including on healthcare and educational facilities, are unacceptable Military…

Mr. President, 1. Thank you for the opportunity to brief on the alarming situation in north-west Syria, which has further escalated since last week’s briefings. Heavy strikes from both air and ground are causing massive waves of civilian displacement and major loss of civilian life. We are…

The Secretary-General is alarmed by the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation in northwest Syria and the tragic suffering of civilians. The ongoing offensive has displaced almost 900,000 civilians since 1 December 2019, often multiple times. Hundreds have been killed during the same time…

Arabic version Thank you, Mr. President, 1. Since my briefing two weeks ago, I cannot report any progress in ending the current violence in the northwest or in reconvening the political process. 2. Yesterday, the Secretary-General called for an immediate ceasefire in northwest Syria and for…

We are all aware of the unfolding crisis in northwest Syria and the terrible human toll on civilians. Nearly 900,000 people – the vast majority women and children – have fled in the latest fighting under the most tragic circumstances. Hundreds have been killed. Many have been uprooted multiple times…

The military escalation in northwest Syria is having catastrophic humanitarian consequences. At Thursday’s Humanitarian Task Force meeting in Geneva, Senior Humanitarian Adviser Najat Rochdi expressed her gravest alarm at the rising civilian death toll and the unprecedented number of persons…

On 3 March, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Mr. Geir O. Pedersen announced the appointment of Ms. Marianne Gasser of Switzerland as the Head of the Envoy’s office in Damascus. Ms. Gasser brings a wealth of experience in diplomacy, international affairs and human rights, and has had a long…

Your Royal Highnesses, your Excellencies, Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, dear friends: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to brief you on the developments in Syria and my efforts to facilitate a political solution. It is an honour to be here, among lots of friends. It is only together…