The UN Security Council is gearing up for an emergency session to tackle the escalating crisis in northern Syria, a development that could have profound implications for regional stability and international peace.
At a Glance
- Syria is in a prolonged state of conflict, with increasing violence in 2024.
- The UN Security Council will convene to address recent rebel advances in northern Syria.
- African countries have backed Syria’s request for an emergency session.
- Humanitarian issues and a political resolution strategy are main concerns.
Security Council Gathers Amid Escalating Crisis
The situation in northern Syria has taken a dire turn, prompting the United Nations Security Council to schedule an emergency session. Syrian government forces have been challenged by rebel advances in Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama, causing regional instability. With over 540,000 people fleeing into Syria from Lebanon and other neighboring areas since late September, there is mounting pressure on international actors to address the humanitarian crisis.
Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and other African members have expressed support for the emergency meeting, aiming to discuss intervention methods, humanitarian coordination, and diplomatic solutions. A political process aligned with UN Security Council resolution 2254 (2015) is essential, involving civil society perspectives. The fight intensifying in Syria’s north is causing civilian casualties and massive infrastructure damage, necessitating urgent action from global leaders.
BREAKING – UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting on Syria Tuesday: diplomatic sources https://t.co/VN1GDvRAz3 pic.twitter.com/dJcraH1fI0
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) December 2, 2024
Humanitarian and Political Challenges in Syria
Syria’s challenges are numerous, including a dire humanitarian situation marked by violence, cholera outbreaks, and food shortages. An estimated 16.7 million people will require aid in 2024, the highest since the crisis erupted in 2011. Clashing forces and unresolved political tensions depict a near-insurmountable crisis. While the call for protective measures for civilians intensifies, regional de-escalation and a nationwide ceasefire have been emphasized.
“The immediate priority for Syria is de-escalation, she stressed, noting that 2024 is “well on track to be the most violent since 2020”, with “Syrians […] trapped in an unrelenting cycle of violence and suffering, forced to flee from places of refuge now under attack — both within their homeland and beyond its borders”.” – Najat Rochdi
International figures support efforts towards easing tensions. A division within the Security Council exists on sanctions, foreign military roles, and the Syrian Government’s future. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and NGOs are providing essential supplies and facilitating cross-border aid from Türkiye. UN operations, however, have faced difficulties in execution due to ongoing risks in affected areas.
#BREAKING UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting on Syria Tuesday: diplomatic sources pic.twitter.com/9UxiZmiXc9
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 2, 2024
Diplomatic Efforts and Future Outlook
With rebel movements gaining ground, the urgency for Syria’s Political Resolution to be revisited grows. The draft for a Constitutional Committee and regional dialogue needs to regain momentum. Notably, countries such as France have expressed readiness to revisit sanctions, showing diplomatic openness to underscore a political solution in Syria. The session will also explore avenues for a potential ceasefire and enhanced regional stability, recognizing the crucial role of diverse international alliances.
“The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Syria on Tuesday, following a lightning offensive by rebels who captured swathes of the country’s north from government forces, diplomatic sources told AFP.”
As the UN Security Council convenes, their decisions will have ramifications beyond immediate humanitarian needs, touching upon strategic regional relations and long-term stabilization efforts. This session will be pivotal in resetting the course for the war-torn nation, steering it towards peace and reconciliation amidst complex geopolitical dynamics.
Sources
1. UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting on Syria Tuesday: diplomatic sources
