Ambassador Ala: Terrorism and coercive measures cause human suffering to Syrians

Geneva, (ST) – Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Hossam El Din Ala stressed that terrorism supported by external forces and unilateral coercive measures are the main causes of human suffering for Syrians and their displacement inside and outside their country.

In a statement on Wednesday before the 73rd session of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR in Geneva, Ambassador Ala indicated that creating conditions in countries of origin to ensure the safe and dignified return of refugees is one of the goals adopted by the Global Refugee Compact. He also said that the Syrian state has continued to work to restore normal life, rehabilitate infrastructure, and return service institutions to the areas liberated from terrorism, and to adopt legal and administrative measures to facilitate the return of the displaced and provide their basic needs.

Ambassador Ala pointed out that three conferences have been held in Damascus since 2020 and within the framework of implementing their outputs, centers have been established to receive returning refugees and displaced persons.

Ambassador Ala indicated that the Syrian government measures contributed in facilitating the return of about one million displaced people so far from Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. 

Ambassador Ala said that there are still political agendas that manipulate and use the humanitarian suffering of the Syrians, and practices that threaten Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

The permanent representative of Syria to the United Nations in Geneva stressed that expanding access to basic services, early recovery activities and infrastructure rehabilitation are essential elements for the success of efforts to enhance the enabling environment for the return of displaced persons and refugees.

Ambassador Ala stressed that the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the Syrian Golan is the main reason for the forced displacement of more than five million Palestinians and half a million Syrians from the occupied Golan. “These displaced people are looking to return to their homes in implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions”, he added.

Raghda Sawas