October 23, 2024
Madam President,
I would like to thank Mr. Pedersen and Ms. Wosornu for their briefings, as well as Ms. Haj Ibrahim and Ms. Jarbawi for their testimonies. I would also like to express my condolences to the Permanent Representative of Turkey, following today’s terrorist attack in Ankara.
The crises in Gaza and Lebanon run the risk of a regional conflagration that could spread to Syria. This must be avoided at all costs. All stakeholders must show restraint and work towards de-escalation. The civilian population would be the first to pay the price for the opening of a new front. These tensions come on top of the continuing hostilities in Syria, with the resurgence of Daech, the development of captagon trafficking and continued violence by the regime and its supporters against the population. The Russian bombardments of October 14-16 against the population of Idlib, which left around ten people dead, demonstrated this.
At this time of acute crisis in the Middle East, the need to initiate a credible political process that meets the aspirations of Syrians remains the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace. We are ready, provided tangible and verifiable progress in the political process, to start lifting sanctions and to consider financing reconstruction. For the time being, we reiterate our trust in Mr. Pedersen to implement all aspects of resolution 2254.
Over 400,000 Syrians and Lebanese have fled Israeli military operations in Lebanon to Syria. We must help them, as well as the displaced populations in Lebanon and the Syrian refugees who are still there. We must continue to put pressure on the regime to lift the obstacles preventing the return of refugees. This is the aim of the work undertaken by France with the UNHCR and its partners.
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate throughout Syria, where 70% of the population finds itself in emergency situations. Continuing hostilities and the risk of escalation in the region only accentuate needs, in a context where funding is lacking. We are concerned about the long-term consequences of the thirteen years of conflict on the civilian population, particularly children, who are affected by malnutrition and psychological distress. We call on all States to mobilize to respond to the emergency.
France recalls that international humanitarian law is binding on all stakeholders, everywhere in Syria. We reiterate the vital importance of cross-border aid supplies, which are helping 2.4 million people, particularly in the northwest. Efforts to deliver aid across the front lines must continue. We call on the regime to maintain the open-ended permits for Bab el Hawa and the Bab El Salam and Al Rai passages, which expire on November 13.
Thank you.