New York, SANA- UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the international community to act urgently to contribute to Syria’s recovery by addressing humanitarian support and sanctions and other restrictions imposed on it.
In a video message to the ninth annual Brussels Conference held in Belgian capital on Monday under the title “Standing with Syria”: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition,” Guterres stressed the need to support efforts to ensure an orderly and inclusive political transition, along with the establishment of institutions that serve and protect all Syrians.
He noted that Syria’s future is up to the Syrians to determine, and that the United Nations is committed to assisting them on their journey toward a free, prosperous, and peaceful future.
Guterres said that Syria is at a watershed moment, as Syrians stand on the threshold of a historic opportunity to realize their aspirations for a prosperous future. However, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. The Syrian economy has lost approximately $800 billion in GDP over 14 years of war, and vital service infrastructure has been destroyed.
He explained that millions of Syrians, both inside and outside Syria, still need massive levels of support to provide food, shelter, basic services, and livelihoods. He noted that Syria is suffering from one of the “largest humanitarian crises in the world,” but that funding for the humanitarian response remains insufficient.
The UN Secretary-General expressed the organization’s commitment to helping Syrians achieve sustainable peace by building a country of reconciliation, justice, freedom, and prosperity.
Reem Abdulhameed / Manar Salameh
