Regional war threatens Syria’s fragile transition
New York, US (PANA) - The Security Council is meeting now at a critical juncture for Syria’s fragile transition.
While the Iran-US ceasefire has temporarily eased regional spillover from Lebanon and elsewhere, conditions remain volatile in Syria.
The reported US military withdrawal now completed, marks a milestone, yet the chamber faces a country grappling with deep internal fissures and external pressures.
“I visited Syria again last month,” said Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher: . “We saw progress: millions of people are returning home. Markets growing. More lights coming back on. The Humanitarian Reset working.”
He heard from President Al-Sharaa a compelling vision for Syrian-led recovery and growth, the restoration of essential services, and the creation of conditions to allow people to leave the camps and return home.
Hmanitarians are stepping up, helping over 200,000 returnees each month with food, healthcare, and water. In the first quarter of 2026, the UN disbursed $84 million from recently merged country and cross-border pooled funds, with 72 local partners receiving almost two-thirds.
“This month we have allocated a further $146 million of funding from the US government, to 17 lifesaving projects,” he said.
At the same time, conflict across the region in March put immense pressure on Syria. As of 19 April, nearly 300,000 people had crossed into Syria from Lebanon – overwhelmingly Syrian nationals – adding to the estimated 1.6 million Syrian refugees who have returned since the end of 2024.
At a time when 13 million still need food, 12 million need clean water and nearly 13 million need healthcare support, “funding cuts continue to bite”, with the aid plan only 42 per cent funded in 2025.
Across Syria, 417 health facilities (over 20 per cent of the total) have been hit by the shortfall, and 366 either suspended or reduced capacity, affecting over 7 million people.
Amid ongoing cold weather and floods, affecting over 3,400 shelters, winter assistance is at only 28 per cent of the $112 million required.
WFP needs $200 million in the coming 6 months to avoid large-scale suspensions.
“Our full requirement is $2.9 billion” for humanitarian aid, he said. “But to sustain the fragile progress I have described, to keep hospitals running and families fed over the next six months, we require a hyper prioritized $1.5 billion. This is the absolute minimum needed to prevent a reversal of gains.”
“The world needs a success story. Syria could be one - but only if this Council helps us overcome the three risks I have outlined: through sustained diplomatic engagement, immediate humanitarian support, and long-term investment in the future. We must stay the course.”
Claudio Cordone, Deputy Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, said there was also some success in insulating Syria from the region’s multiple crises over the past month despite the odds and repeated violations of Syria’s sovereignty.
However, economic, institutional, and social pressures, as well as localized insecurity, present challenges to Syria’s political transition, he said.
“Addressing them requires consolidating institutions, promoting social peace and advancing Syria’s full reintegration into the international economic and diplomatic order – all objectives that the UN as a whole is actively supporting,” he said.
Israeli military activity in southern Syria continues in breach of existing agreements and international law, with air strikes on 19 March against Syrian military infrastructure for the first time since July 2025.
“Israeli forces have continued to conduct incursions into Syrian territory almost daily,” he said, citing an operation on 29 March against Hizbullah in south Lebanon from Jabal al-Sheikh/Mount Hermon in Syrian territory.
Today, dozens of Israelis crossed several hundred metres into the Area of Separation near the village of Hadar. “Both the crossing and their behaviour was highly provocative,” he said. They were brought back by the IDF which condemned the incident.
He strongly called on Israel to cease violations and return all Syrian detainees taken in violation of international law, adding: “I hope talks between Israel and Syria with US facilitation can lead to sustainable security arrangements.”
“It is a notable achievement that March 2026 recorded the lowest levels of direct conflict-related violence in 15 years, although civilians continued to be killed by remnants of war,” he said.
He welcomed progress in preparing the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2027–2030, led by the Syrian Government in coordination with the UN system and partners.
“The peace dimension of this nexus underscores the importance of strengthening cooperation between our office and the Syrian Government,” he said.
-0- PANA RA 22April2026.
