Syria has emerged after more than a decade of crisis with "clear signs of progress", but acute needs remain and efforts must boost support so the country can "move from survival towards recovery", UN officials told the Security Council on Monday.
"There is now a genuine opportunity to help Syrians move from survival towards recovery," said Assistant Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs Indrika Ratwatte, on behalf of UN relief chief Tom Fletcher.
"This moment requires ambition anchored in realism: sustained humanitarian action, political will and investment are essential to help Syrians move beyond emergency assistance and rebuild their lives."
Despite signs of progress towards recovery, reconstruction and development, "humanitarian needs remain acute, displacement persists and conditions for sustainable returns are still uneven across the country," Mr. Ratwatte said.
Millions remain displaced
Millions of Syrians remain displaced, both within Syria and abroad. Since December 2024, some 1.6 million refugees and nearly two million internally displaced people have returned.
As people go back to their communities, access to basic services, protection and livelihoods is critical, and returns and reintegration must remain safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable, Mr. Ratwatte said.
While aid operations are delivering, serving 3,000 communities and reaching three million people in the first quarter of this year, he said resources remain insufficient, adding that "with more support, much more can be achieved."
To address this, meetings between the government and UN partners in May mapped out the path forward under the No Camps, No Tents vision, focused on protection, service provision and sustainable livelihoods, alongside Syria's statement of national recovery priorities, which provides a clear national direction for recovery and reintegration.
Beyond emergency aid
Noting that the $2.92 billion humanitarian appeal is just 20 per cent funded, Mr. Ratwatte issued three requests for Security Council action:
- "Help us sustain a humanitarian response that is proving it can deliver. Predictable and flexible funding are essential"
- "We must support Syria's transition beyond emergency aid by helping address the barriers preventing people from rebuilding their lives"
- "We require sustained investment in recovery and reconstruction, aligned with the government's "Statement of National Recovery Priorities" and guided by the needs and rights of affected communities
"We must meet urgent needs today while laying the foundations for lasting stability and prosperity," he said, adding that development financing, economic recovery and stronger services will be essential to ensuring Syria's transition is sustainable.
'Opportunity and fragility exist side-by-side'
Also briefing the Council, the UN Secretary-General's Deputy Special Envoy for Syria, Claudio Cordone, said "Syria's political transition is at a critical phase, with opportunity and fragility existing side-by-side."
Highlighting recent meetings in Damascus with ministers, survivors and families of victims of past atrocities and a wide range of civil society and women actors, he said voting had taken place peacefully in the past weeks, however, more than eight months since the main elections, the People's Assembly has still not been constituted, awaiting the Presidential appointment of a third of its members.
"The scale of the challenges facing this transitional parliament cannot be overstated," he said. "New laws need to be debated and adopted, executive actions need to be reviewed, diverse voices must be heard and progress made on the transition."
Economic conditions remain a key challenge for the transition, he said, welcoming Syrian efforts to tackle inflation, attract investment, strengthen private-sector activity and promote reform.
Kidnappings and daily Israeli violations
However, security challenges remain.
Kidnappings, counter-kidnappings and internal rivalries among Druze factions continue to affect the province of Sweida, where no progress can be seen on the implementation of the 2025 Roadmap of confidence-building and reintegration following a spate of deadly clashes in July 2025, which had sowed seeds of distrust between Damascus and locals that still persist amid a fragile security environment.
Meanwhile, Israel remains in violation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, with its continued military activity and near-daily incursions across parts of southern Syria, including erecting temporary checkpoints, searching and detaining of civilians, with some still remaining in custody, alongside reports of restrictions on Syrian civilian access and damage to agricultural lands.
Noting Syria's restraint and signals of openness to a security arrangement with Israel, Mr. Cordone said the UN in Syria is enhancing its efforts to address the needs of affected populations amidst continued Israeli military activity and strongly reiterated "our call on Israel to adhere to the 1974 Agreement, release those illegally detained and respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity".
Terrorist arrests, extremist networks and foreign fighters
To address threats from extremist networks, Mr. Cordone said Syria reports having conducted extensive counterterrorism operations, resulting in over 230 arrests in the past three months, including foreign nationals, the dismantling of seven Da'esh-linked cells and the seizure of weapons and equipment across several governorates.
However, Da'esh activity outside traditional operating areas and its attempts to exploit governance gaps and local grievances are concerning, he said, highlighting a 14 June attack on a security headquarters in Raqqa that killed security personnel and injured others.
Continued concern about foreign fighter networks has also emphasised the importance of ensuring effective integration.
Supporting regional stability
With a view to supporting regional stability, Syria affirmed its position of non-interference in Lebanon, the Special Envoy said.
Syrian security forces launched operations targeting cross-border smuggling networks and reportedly blocked attempts to transfer rockets into Lebanon, he continued.
"We hope that the recent Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran will be implemented and that greater regional stability can re-enable focus on Syria's stability and its economy."
