Pedersen calls on the conflicted parties in Syria to take measures to lower tensions
UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, confirmed that the earthquake that struck Syria on Feb. 6, 2023, exacerbated the tragedy inside and outside the country and on the both sides of conflict lines.
In a statement on the first anniversary of the earthquake, Pedersen said: “Thousands of Syrians in Syria and Turkey were killed due to the earthquake and millions of people fled their homes.”
According to Pedersen, the region saw the lowest level of hostilities in a decade, and a new diplomatic interest in the Syrian tragedy, but this did not translate into a real progress. Unfortunately, the year of 2023 saw lately the worst eruption of violent conflict since years, exacerbating the deteriorated humanitarian situation and not making progress in the political process.
Pedersen pointed out that the ongoing and worrying repercussions resulting from the regional developments, remind us that the Syrians are always exposed to serious threats, as the earthquake did before.
Pedersen emphasized that “all parties should take concrete measures to lower tensions in Syria and consider the human and economic costs of a broader in an already unstable area.”
Pedersen paid tribute to all those who contribute in responding to earthquake disaster, especially the Syrians and the UN agencies who worked tirelessly last year in hard conditions.
Pedersen considered that “the Syrian people need hope and protection that can be provided through halting the escalation by all major actors, real assistance to all those in need, and pushing the political path forward, to restore their unity and meet their aspirations in line with UNSCR 2254.”
A devastating earthquake struck Syria and Turkey on Feb.6, 2023, killing and injuring thousands of civilians, causing massive destruction to infrastructure and public property, and displacing thousands of families from the areas that were seriously affected.
