Assistant Minister of Environment: Unjust war on Syria has led to the deterioration of the economic, social and environmental conditions in the country

Tehran – Assistant Minister of Local Administration of Environment Moataz Douaji said that the unjust war that was waged on Syria during the past years has led to the deterioration of the economic, social and environmental conditions as well as weak preparedness and response to natural disasters, including mitigating the impacts of climate, which led to a significant deterioration in these systems and an increase in pollution.

He made the remarks during the International Conference on combating Sand and Dust Storms which kicked off this morning in Tehran.

“The war on Syria has led to reducing the implementation rates of the government’s plans, programs and projects that aimed at reclaiming lands, combating desertification, stabilizing sand dunes and maintaining pastoral and natural reserves, rehabilitating the pastures degraded due to acts of vandalism by terrorists sabotage. The war also caused the stopping of work in many international projects aimed at achieving sustainable development.”

He added that the earthquake that struck the country last February occurred while the country has been facing many difficulties in getting access to advanced technology that meets advanced environmental standards due to unjust blockade imposed on Syria.

Douaji pointed out that Syria is also exposed to successive droughts, high temperatures as well as sand and dust storms, which poses a major developmental and environmental challenge in the light of the current circumstances and blockade.

Despite of these challenges, Syria has committed itself to the international conventions and treaties it has ratified, and which number 35, mainly the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Paris Agreement, and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), he stressed.

Douaji went on to say that the among the priorities of the Syrian government policies is reducing the impacts of climate change, moving towards achieving sustainable development, combating desertification and land degradation.

He pointed out that Syria’s suggests establishing a regional center for monitoring sand and dust storms and early warning against them and supporting the country’s efforts to implement necessary projects to address this negative cross-border environmental phenomenon.

Hamda Mustafa