UN Security Council: Briefing Session Followed by Closed Consultations on the Situation in Syria

New York (United Nations) – The United Nations Security Council will hold an open session on Tuesday, followed by closed consultations regarding the situation in Syria.

The Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, are scheduled to provide a briefing on the political and humanitarian developments, followed by closed consultations via remote communication from Damascus.

Today’s briefing, which includes participants from Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey under Article 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, will be the Council’s first open meeting following the recent events in the country.

Mr. Pedersen, who highlighted several challenges facing the country in his statements upon arriving in Damascus on Sunday, will update Council members on the latest developments during the session.

Council members are also expected to express their interest in hearing Pedersen’s assessment of the current situation on the ground and the readiness of the parties to engage in a comprehensive political transition and potential steps to advance the political process under Resolution 2254.

For his part, Fletcher will provide an overview of the humanitarian situation in the country and will also address the economic disruptions and obstacles hindering humanitarian aid delivery.

According to an urgent update released last Thursday by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the situation has stabilized in parts of Syria, and humanitarian operations across the border from Turkey have continued without hindrance. However, humanitarian access and aid delivery remain challenging in parts of northeastern Syria, according to the UN official.

Some members during the session may emphasize the need to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemn the ongoing airstrikes carried out by the Zionist entity against the country.

APS