October 23, 2024
I will now make a statement in my national capacity.
Like my colleagues, I would like to thank Special Envoy Geir Pedersen and Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy at OCHA, for their statements and their great commitment.
I would also like to warmly thank Ms Abir Hajibrahim and Ms Su’ad Jarbawi for responding to Switzerland’s invitation to offer this Council their perspectives rooted in the experience of Syrian civil society since the beginning of the conflict.
In Syria, civil society is making a crucial contribution to the delivery of humanitarian aid and to the search for lasting peace and reconciliation throughout the country.
In this respect, it is important to highlight the role of Syrian women, who are constantly committed to an inclusive political process led by Syria under the auspices of the UN and its Special Envoy, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
On their own initiative, or through platforms such as the Civil Society Support Room and the Women’s Consultative Council under the aegis of the Special Envoy’s office, Syrian women are working tenaciously to heal the wounds and rebuild the social fabric that a decade of conflict has torn apart.
Working to provide answers to the relatives of people who have disappeared as a result of the conflict is an integral part of this action. Syrians have the right to know what happened to their missing relatives.
Switzerland therefore encourages civil society, as well as all States concerned, to cooperate with the Independent Institution on Missing Persons, whose mandate is strictly humanitarian. We welcome the forthcoming appointment of a person to head this Geneva-based institution, and hope that it will soon be fully operational.
Respect for international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, is fundamental if we are to halt the spiral of violence of recent weeks, which is of the utmost concern to us.
Switzerland calls on all actors who have influence on the parties to the conflict to show the utmost restraint and to commit to a ceasefire throughout Syrian territory, in accordance with Resolution 2254.
We cannot repeat it often enough: the civilian population and infrastructure must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law.
We must at all costs prevent the conflict in the Middle East and neighbouring Lebanon from spreading to Syria. To this end, we are also stressing the importance of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, given the worrying signs of escalation in the region, particularly in humanitarian terms.
This is particularly the case in Lebanon, where the crisis has already caused more than 425,000 people to flee to Syria in less than a month. Most of them, mainly women and children, have found refuge with relatives or in host communities. These people are in a situation of acute vulnerability and have immense and urgent needs. Women, particularly single women, are exposed to an increased risk of gender-based violence. In view of this situation, Switzerland welcomes the rapid action taken by the UN and international and national NGOs. We encourage them to continue their good coordination.
As Ms Jarbawi pointed out, the massive influx of people from Lebanon is putting a strain on the response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria itself, where more than 16 million people are already in need of assistance.
To cope with the scale of the situation, all forms of aid delivery – including cross-border aid and aid delivered across the front lines – remain crucial. Greater predictability is also essential. This will only be
possible if funding is adapted to meet needs. This is why, a few days ago, the Swiss government announced its intention to allocate an additional CHF 7 million in humanitarian aid to meet the needs of the population in Lebanon and Syria.
Excellencies, dear colleagues,
The regional turmoil must not divert our attention from the situation in Syria. This Council must remain seized of the matter and continue to work tirelessly for a lasting political solution, in accordance with Resolution 2254. Switzerland will continue to engage in this end.
Thank you.