Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen is engaging with all parties who have a stake in the political future of the country “on the way forward” towards a peaceful and Syrian-led transition, the UN chief António Guterres said on Wednesday.
Following the decision by the Security Council to mandate Syrian chemical weapons inspections, an OPCW team prepared to leave for Syria on Monday 30 September 2013 (file photo).
WFP scaling up aid
Meanwhile on the humanitarian front, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) is scaling up food assistance programmes across Syria to reach an estimated 2.8 million displaced and food-insecure people, the emergency food agency announced on Thursday.
The spillover from years of civil conflict and months of fighting in neighbouring Lebanon and Israel – stemming in turn from the Israel-Hamas war – meant the country was already deeply destabilised before the regime was deposed by the de facto authorities in Damascus.
“During this critical time for Syria, WFP teams are on-the-ground ensuring that the country’s most vulnerable people receive the urgent food assistance they need,” said Country Director in Syria Kenn Crossley.
Faltering economy
“Right now, commercial supply routes are compromised, food prices are soaring, and the Syrian currency is depreciating. Essential items such as rice, sugar and oil are in short supply and bread prices have spiked, making it critically important that we scale-up our efforts to assist during this winter season.”
WFP urgently needs $250 million in the next six months to buy and deliver food assistance for up to 2.8 million displaced and vulnerable.
The agency has one of its largest country operations already in place across Syria, spanning seven offices. This presence has enabled WFP to quickly scale-up over the past two weeks, providing daily ready-to-eat rations, food baskets, fresh and hot meals, to nearly 70,000 displaced people in hard-hit areas.
Food distributions and hot meal services provided by WFP pre-crisis have already resumed for displaced people in Homs, Aleppo, Raqqa and Al-Hasakah, after days of instability and unrest.
Nearly 14 years of war have left many Syrians in a vulnerable state; some 12.9 million people were food insecure at the start of 2024, including three million severely food insecure.
“Food aid is not only a lifeline for ensuring nutritional needs are met during a crisis,” stressed Mr. Crossley, “it’s a reassuring presence that lets communities know they are not alone in what can feel like a very vulnerable, and isolating moment in their lives.”