Lavrentiev appeals to international community to take serious steps to resolve the problem of Syrian refugees
Russian president’s special envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev has asserted that the priority today is to rebuild the economy of Syria and create appropriate conditions for the return of refugees and the displaced people to their permanent place of residence, noting that the number of those who want to return to their houses is big.
He referred to the destructive impacts of the illegitimate unilateral measures being imposed on Syria and the need to put an end to the collective punishment of the Syrian people just because they stand by their country.
Lavrentiev appealed to the international community to take serious and effective steps to solve the problem of Syrian refugees.
His remarks came during a speech he made on Monday during the opening ceremony of the meeting of the Syrian-Russian Coordination Committees being held at the Palace of Conferences in Damascus.
The Russian Ambassador in Damascus, Alexander Yefimov, affirmed that the joint efforts being exerted by Syria and Russia to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees and displaced persons have taken an irreversible form.
Yefimov expressed regret at the attempts of some countries to diminish the importance of the initiative in this field or distort its image in the eyes of international arena.
He said that the appropriate conditions were formed to Resolution 2585 “on extending the entry of humanitarian aid into Syria across the border,” which includes a number of new aspects in principle in responding to the general needs of the Syrians.
Yefimov added: “ We have an opportunity that should not be missed, and it is now necessary to think about how to achieve the principles of Resolution 2585, including working in the context of collective efforts to help the process of returning Syrians to their areas of origin and securing them with all that is necessary.”
Yefimov indicated that the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria are one of the main obstacles to the country’s full return to normal life.
For his part, the Resident Coordinator for United Nations Activities and Humanitarian Affairs in Syria, Imran Reda, stressed the importance of concerted efforts to secure the needs of the displaced people returning to their country and the need to increase humanitarian engagement towards the most affected groups and assist them in the most effective way.
Reda pointed to the need to enable the environment that allows for the voluntary, safe and dignified return of refugees according to international standards.
The UNHCR Head of Mission in Syria Sivanka Darsha Dhanapala referred to UNHCR’s role with regard to the return of refugees, its concern for IDPs, and a collaborative approach that supports sustainable livelihoods, improved access to basic services and infrastructure.
The Syrian-Russian joint meeting to follow up the work of the International Conference on the Return of Syrian Refugees and Displaced people, who were forced to leave their homeland because of terrorist groups’ crimes, started on Monday at the Conferences Palace in Damascus.
The three-day event will discuss the measures adopted by the Syrian state to create suitable conditions for the return of Syrian refugees and provide decent living conditions and a comfortable environment in coordination and cooperation with Russia.
The International Conference on Return of Syrian Refugees was held in November 2020, and it called on the international community to provide appropriate support in order to provide housing for the displaced people and their return to normal life and increase its contribution and support to Syria through carrying out projects related to reconstruction, including basic infrastructure facilities such as water and electricity plants, schools, hospitals, health and medical care, social services, and demining.
Basma Qaddour/ Obaida Al-Mohammad