UN official: Syria's transitional phase faces challenges requiring improved conditions, reforms, and enhanced international support

New York, October 13 (KUNA) -- A UN official stated that Syria’s transitional phase “faces significant economic, humanitarian, and security challenges,” calling for “improvements in living conditions, the implementation of comprehensive reforms, and enhanced international support to ensure long-term stability in the country.” These remarks were made by Claudio Cordoni, Deputy Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Syria, during a briefing he delivered on Monday evening before the UN Security Council as part of a session on the situation in the Middle East, including Syria.

Cordoni said that the economic situation is one of the key factors for the success of the transitional phase, welcoming the opportunities created by the easing of sanctions and renewed financial cooperation. He noted that the United Nations is exploring with the Syrian government the possibility of supporting an international conference on recovery and reconstruction, emphasizing the need to translate international support into projects that deliver tangible benefits to local communities. He warned that “sectarian tensions and violence between communities threaten the transitional phase,” stressing the importance of “preventing retaliatory acts, combating hate speech, strengthening accountability, and launching comprehensive constitutional processes.”

Regarding As-Suwayda Governorate, he reported a “decline in violent incidents along contact lines during the current month and improved mobility on the Damascus–As-Suwayda road, despite ongoing political stalemate,” affirming that “reaching a lasting solution requires a Syrian-led dialogue within the framework of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

On the situation in southern Syria, Cordoni expressed concern over the continued military activities by the occupying Israeli entity, including the establishment of checkpoints, carrying out search and arrest operations, and firing, noting that 49 people remain in Israeli detention according to reports. He reiterated UN Secretary-General’s call to end violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, pointing out that “diplomacy is the only way to reach security arrangements consistent with international law.”

For his part, Mohammed Yahya, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, in his statement during the session, reported that more than 3.8 million refugees and internally displaced persons have returned to their areas of origin since December 2024, while more than 5.5 million people remain internally displaced within Syria. He warned of continued funding shortages, noting that “funding for the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan has not exceeded 32 percent, despite ongoing humanitarian needs,” and called for “increased support and investment in basic services and sustainable solutions.” (End) A.S.T