Discurso do Representante Permanente, Embaixador Sérgio França Danese, em reunião do Conselho de Segurança sobre a Situação no Oriente Médio (Síria Humanitária) - 27 de setembro de 2023 (texto em inglês)

Statement by the Permanent Representative, Ambassador Sérgio França Danese, on the Situation in the Middle-East (Syria Humanitarian Situation)
September 27th, 2023

Mister President,

I speak on behalf of Brazil and Switzerland, co-penholders on the Syrian humanitarian file.

We thank Special Envoy Geir Pedersen, Director of Operations and Advocacy of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Edem Wosornu, and the International Rescue Committee’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Vice-President, Ms. Su’ad Jarbawi for their briefings. I also acknowledge the presence of representatives from Syria, Iran and Türkiye at today’s meeting.

Switzerland and Brazil welcome the resumption of United Nations humanitarian deliveries into northwest Syria via the Bab Al-Hawa crossing since 19 September. So far, 65 trucks filled with essential aid from UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration have successfully passed through Bab Al-Hawa. We express our gratitude to Under-Secretary-General Griffiths and his team, both at Headquarters and in the field, for their dedication in operationalizing the exchange of letters between the Syrian Government and OCHA, thereby ensuring the use Bab Al-Hawa crossing. That crossing remains central to United Nations efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance in Syria. The resumption of the deliveries is promising, and we are hopeful that its sustainability.

We appreciate the current collaboration between Syria and OCHA. With the extension by three months of the use by the United Nations of the Bab Al-Salam and Al-Rai border crossings, United Nations' outreach now spans three border crossings, assisting 2.7 million people in need monthly. We also reiterate the necessity of predictable arrangements to respond to the ever-increasing humanitarian needs on the ground, and call on all actors involved not to limit the duration of the permissions.

Syria’s worsening humanitarian crisis is deeply concerning. The UN's role in delivering aid remains vital, especially as an increasing number of Syrians rely on humanitarian assistance. It is imperative that all aid modalities, including cross-border and cross-line, remain available to humanitarian actors, ensuring rapid, unhindered and sustainable access across Syria.

Humanitarian operations in Syria must continue to be undertaken with respect for the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. It is vital that all parties to the armed conflict — with no exception under no pretext— uphold those foundational humanitarian norms and international humanitarian law, including their obligation to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need. Moreover, the continuous and rigorous monitoring of cross-border humanitarian deliveries is essential to ensure that these principles are lived up to.

All parties to the conflict must respect humanitarian and human rights law, guaranteeing the safety and well-being of the people living in Syria. We also welcome OCHA’s commitment to continue to appeal to donors to provide the necessary funding for the humanitarian response plan. As of 13 September, more than halfway through the year, the humanitarian response plan for 2023 was only 28 per cent funded, raising serious concerns of the humanitarian community. Sustainable funding is needed for the plan’s implementation. In addition, we would like to stress the importance of early-recovery projects to contribute to the reduction of needs in the long term.

Mister President,

We appreciate OCHA’s dedication and transparent approach to the delivery of assistance to north-west Syria under the new consent-based model. We are grateful for OCHA’s commitment to keep the Council informed, as it should remain informed. Should there be hindrances in humanitarian access, knowing of their occurrence and comprehending their causes is imperative for timely responses.

Switzerland and Brazil have always been, and remain, fully committed to working in good faith within the Council and in contact with all stakeholders so that it fulfils its collective responsibility towards the Syrian people.

Mister President,

I now speak in my national capacity on the political aspects of the Syrian conflict.

Brazil is following closely the escalating violence in Syria. In the north-east, recent hostilities have impacted populated areas, leading to further loss of civilian lives and the destruction of essential civilian infrastructure. Renewed fighting in the north-west is equally concerning, affecting families living in camps and disrupting educational activities. We urge all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and exercise maximum restraint to prevent further escalation.

We thank Special Envoy Pedersen for his outreach efforts to re-engage key stakeholders in trying to find a resolution to the current stalemate in the political process. Resolution 2254 (2015) provides elements that could lead to a peaceful end to the conflict, ensuring Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity.

Addressing the Syrian refugee crisis requires a holistic approach. A collective action is always needed, taking into account the protection needs of refugees in accordance with international law.

The unfolding humanitarian crisis in Syria underscores the need for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. Amid the ongoing economic crisis, with a plunging currency value and soaring prices for essential goods, the further suffering of Syrian civilians and additional damage to critical infrastructure are simply unacceptable.

Continuous violence, a severe economic crisis with escalating hunger, human rights violations and a stalled peace process constitute, in the words of Mr. Pedersen, an “unacceptable status quo”. Let us not merely hope, but also work diligently towards a favourable political outcome for Syria, ultimately bringing about the peace, stability and reconciliation so very desired by the Syrian people.

A military solution to the Syrian crisis is not only illusory but also detrimental to the future of the country. Renewed political will is essential to resume a credible intra-Syrian political process, especially with the reconvening of the Constitutional Committee. We encourage all parties to show flexibility for the resumption of the United Nations-facilitated political process. Syria and the region should move ahead and leave these painful times behind. It is high time that we see them do so.

Thank you.