Excellencies, ladies, and gentlemen,
Syria lives a historic moment. Peace is possible.
Peace ensures that the future of all Syrians is one that is stable, economically viable, and free from fear.
Yet, in the recent wave of violence along the coast we saw just how fragile Syria’s path to peace is. Civilians fled their homes, hospitals were overwhelmed with the injured and dead, and families were left frantically searching for their loved ones.
We have a shared interest and responsibility to help Syria emerge from the ruinous abyss of war. This is achievable, but it will require renewed commitment by its leaders to uphold international law, alongside sustained support from the global community.
The last 14 years of conflict in Syria stand as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of wars fought without limits. Cities lie in ruins, essential infrastructure has collapsed, and lives have been irreparably altered.
The fear and division sown across Syrian society will not be easily repaired. However, I am convinced that respect for international humanitarian law is essential for laying the groundwork for peace.
When adhered to, the rules of war ensure that all civilians—no matter their birthplace or which side of the frontline they live on—are equally deserving of protection under the law.
This means civilians and the infrastructure they rely on, like the Tishreen Dam or the Alouk Water Station, must be protected and sustained. Humanitarian assistance must reach people in need. Detainees must be treated with dignity.
Upholding these principles preserve paths to peace and reconciliation; ignoring them breeds further chaos and division.
The consequences of abandoning humanity in war echo through generations of Syrians. The families of the missing will continue to live with unresolved trauma unless we work together to find them answers.
Today, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has about 30,000 cases of people still missing from Syria. More than 2,000 of them were under the age of 16 at their time of disappearance. We know the actual number is much higher.
We must learn the lessons from the past quickly. I visited Syria earlier this year and met with families whose loved ones were detained for years and are now missing. The suffering of so many could have been avoided if the ICRC had been allowed to visit all detainees, monitor their conditions, and maintain vital contact between them and their families.
Since December, we have been calling for the preservation of gravesites and official records and working with forensics specialists to help identify the deceased, including former detainees of Sednaya prison.
The task ahead is immense and will require significant local, national, and international resources over years. We must remain resolute in our commitment to the families. The answers they seek are vital for the country’s healing.
Excellencies,
It would be a mistake – a big mistake – to disinvest from Syria now.
From Aleppo to Al Hol, Damascus to Idlib, ICRC teams are working across the country hand in hand with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. We see every day what is at stake if the international community abandons Syria at this pivotal moment.
Humanitarian aid remains a lifeline that millions of Syrians depend on. Ending it now would only deepen their suffering and prolong the country’s recovery.
We must also help Syrian communities rebuild. Repairing infrastructure, restoring essential services, and clearing areas of unexploded ordnances help make sure people have safe and dignified conditions to stay for or return to, if they voluntarily choose to do so.
This means that States must also continue to regularly review sanctions policies and restrictive measures to further facilitate humanitarian assistance and the provision of vital services.
Reducing aid budgets means that aid organisations will increasingly need to make impossible choices. If states reduce funding, they will have to do more to invest in peace.
Thank you.
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