Latest news with #SyrianCivilWar
Scoop
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
‘A Moral Failure': Security Council Hears About Grave Violations Against Children Caught In War
'From that day on, our home became a travel bag and our path became that of displacement … My childhood was filled with fear and anxiety and people I was deprived of,' she said, speaking via videoconference from Syria. Sila, now 17, described her experiences during the Syrian Civil War to a meeting of the UN Security Council held on Wednesday to discuss the findings of the Secretary-General's latest report on Children and Armed Conflict. The report documented a 25 per cent increase in grave violations against children in 2024, the largest number ever recorded in its 20-year history. ' This year's report from the Secretary-General once again confirms what too many children already know — that the world is failing to protect them from the horrors of war,' said Sheema Sen Gupta, director of child protection at the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). Seema Sen Gupta, director of child protection and migration at UNICEF, briefs the Security Council. 'Each violation against children in every country around the globe represents a moral failure.' The real scale of the harm The report presented to the Security Council is published annually to document grave violations against children affected by war. It relies entirely on data compiled and verified by the UN, meaning that the real numbers are likely much higher than reported. In 2024, the report documented a record 41,370 grave violations — including killing and maiming, rape, abduction and the targeting of infrastructure such as schools which supports children. 'Each child struck by these attacks carries a story, a stolen life, a dream interrupted, a future obscured by senseless violence and protracted conflict,' said Virginia Gamba, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, whose office produced the report. Virginia Gamba, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, briefs the Security Council. While many of these violations occurred during times of conflict — especially as urban warfare is on the rise — grave violations can persist even after a conflict ends. They persist in the unexploded ordinances which still pepper the ground. 'Every unexploded shell left in a field, schoolyard, or alley is a death sentence waiting to be triggered,' said Ms. Sen Gupta. They persist in the spaces which remain destroyed, impeding children from accessing healthcare and education. And they persist in the trauma and injuries which never fully leave a child. Scars that never heal Children who survive the grave violations do not escape unscathed — if they suffered violence, the injuries will stay with them for a lifetime. And even if they were not injured, the trauma remains. 'The physical and psychological scars borne by survivors last a lifetime, affecting families, communities and the very fabric of societies,' said Ms. Gamba. This is why UNICEF and its partners have worked to provide reintegration programmes and psychosocial support for children who are victims of grave violations. Sila said that the trauma of her childhood is still with her, and has pushed her to become an advocate for children in conflicts. 'From that moment on, nothing has felt normal in my life. I've developed a phobia of any sound that resembles a plane, of the dark, and even of silence,' she said. 'This cannot be the new normal' Ms. Gamba called for 'unwavering condemnation and urgent action' from the international community in order to reverse the worrying trends which the report details. ' We cannot afford to return to the dark ages where children were invisible and voiceless victims of armed conflict … Please do not allow them to slip back into the shadows of despair,' she said. Current funding cuts to humanitarian aid are impeding the work of UN agencies and partners to document and respond to grave violations against children. In light of this, Ms. Sen Gupta's call for the Security Council was simple: 'Fund this agenda.' She said that the international community cannot allow this to become 'a new normal,' and reminded the members of the Security Council that children are not and should never be 'collateral damage.' Despite the devastation which the report detailed, there were 'glimmers of hope' according to Ms. Sen Gupta. For example, the Syrian National Army signed an action plan which will prevent the recruitment, killing and maiming of children. Sila also spoke of hope — she hopes that hers is the last generation to suffer these grave violations. 'I am from a generation that survived. Physically,' she said. 'Our bodies survived but our hearts are still living in fear. Please help us replace the word displacement with return, the word rubble with home, the word war with life.'
The Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald
Suicide bombing kills 20 at Damascus church
IS has been behind several attempted attacks on churches in Syria since Assad's fall, but this was the first to succeed, another security source told Reuters. Syria's state news agency cited the health ministry as saying 52 people were injured in the blast. A live stream from the site by Syria's civil defence, the White Helmets, showed destruction inside the church, including a bloodied floor and shattered pews and masonry. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the offensive against Assad before taking over in January for a transitional phase, has repeatedly said he will protect minorities. 'We unequivocally condemn the abhorrent terrorist suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus,' the Greek foreign ministry said in a statement. 'We demand the Syrian transitional authorities take immediate action to hold those involved accountable and implement measures to guarantee the safety of Christian communities and all religious groups, allowing them to live without fear.' IS had previously targeted religious minorities, including a major attack on Shiite pilgrims in Sayeda Zainab in 2016, one of the most notorious bombings during Assad's rule. The latest assault underscores the group's continued ability to exploit security gaps despite the collapse of its territorial control and years of counterterrorism efforts. Reuters
Arab News
7 days ago
- General
- Arab News
What the latest figures reveal about the state of the world's refugees
LONDON: There are not many people who would consider starting over at the age of 103. But for father, grandfather and great-grandfather Jassim, who has spent the past decade in exile in Lebanon with his family, the dramatic end of the Syrian civil war meant he could finally return home. And in May, Jassim did just that. In 2013, after their hometown in Syria's Homs Governorate was caught in the crossfire of the country's bitter civil war, Jassim and the surviving members of his family fled. Not all of them would make the journey to relative safety and a makeshift tent camp near Baalbek in eastern Lebanon. During one period of intense fighting three of his children were killed when a shell fell near the family's house. For Jassim, holding the memory of their loss deep in his heart, the return last month to the town of Al-Qusayr after 12 years as refugees in another country was achingly poignant. 'You raise your children to see them grow and bring life to your home,' he said, speaking through a translator for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. 'Now they are gone.' As the family discovered when they arrived back in Al-Qusayr last month, the home in which they had been raised was also gone. 'It was a bittersweet moment,' Jassim said. 'I was happy to return to the place where I was born and raised but devastated to see my home reduced to rubble.' Although they are back in their own country, the future for Jassim's family remains uncertain. With luck they are on the cusp of a fresh start, but for Jassim returning to the land of his birth has a more final meaning. 'I came back to die in Syria,' he said. UNHCR says about 550,000 Syrian refugees returned home between December and the end of May, along with a further 1.3 million displaced within the country. This is one of the brighter spots in UNHCR's 2025 Global Trends report, published in the lead-up to World Refugee Day on June 20. Overall, the report, which contains the latest statistics on refugees, asylum-seekers, the internally displaced and stateless people worldwide, makes for predictably gloomy reading. As of the end of 2024, it found that 123.2 million people — about one in 67 globally — were forcibly displaced 'as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and events seriously disturbing public order.' This figure includes 5.9 million Palestinian refugees. Of the 123.2 million, 42.7 million are refugees seeking sanctuary in a foreign country, and of these about 6.6 million are from countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Unsurprisingly, the largest number of refugees in the region under the UNHCR's mandate in 2024 were from Syria — accounting for 5.9 million. But other numbers, although smaller, serve as a reminder of conflicts currently overshadowed by events in Syria and Gaza. More than 300,000 Iraqi refugees were registered in 2024, along with 51,348 from Yemen, 23,736 from Egypt, 17,235 from Libya and 10,609 from Morocco. Amid the devastation in Gaza since October 2023, and rising settler violence in the occupied West Bank, nearly as many Palestinians have fled as refugees in 2024 — 43,712 — as have been killed in Gaza. Globally, there is a glimmer of hope. In the second half of 2024 the rate of forced displacement slowed and, says UNHCR, 'operational data and initial estimates for 2025 indicate that global forced displacement may begin to fall during 2025.' Indeed, the agency estimates that by the end of April 2025 the total number of forcibly displaced people — a term that includes people displaced within their own country and those seeking refuge in another state — had fallen by 1 percent to 122.1 million. But whether that trend continues depends very much on several factors, said Tarik Argaz, spokesperson for UNHCR's regional bureau for the Middle East and North Africa in Amman, Jordan. There are, Argaz told Arab News, undoubtedly 'signs of hope in the report, particularly in the area of solutions. But during the remainder of 2025, much will depend on the dynamics in key situations. 'While we should keep hopes high, we have to be very careful in interpreting the trends in the international scene,' including 'whether the situation in South Sudan does not deteriorate further, and whether conditions for return improve, in particular in Afghanistan and Syria.' In 2024, about 9.8 million forcibly displaced people worldwide were able to return home, including 1.6 million refugees — the highest number for more than two decades — and 8.2 million internally displaced people — the second highest total yet recorded. However, Argaz said, 'it must be acknowledged that many of these returns were under duress or in adverse conditions to countries like Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Ukraine, which remain fragile.' For Syrians in particular, 'there is uncertainty and significant risks, especially for minority groups. Syrians in the country and those returning from abroad need support with shelter, access to basic services such as water, sanitation, employment and legal assistance, among other things,' he said. 'The economic conditions remain dire, while the security situation remains fragile in many parts of the country.' And while Jassim and his family are pleased to be back in Syria, UNHCR is concerned that not all Syrian refugees are returning entirely of their own free will. 'UNHCR is supporting those who are choosing to return,' Argaz said. 'But returns should be safe, voluntary and dignified. We continue to call on states not to forcibly return Syrians to any part of Syria and to continue allowing civilians fleeing Syria access to territory and to seek asylum.' The Global Trends report also highlights the burden placed on host countries by refugees. • 550,000 Syrian refugees returned home between December and the end of May. • 6.6 million people forcibly displaced from MENA countries as of December 2024. Source: UNHCR Relative to the size of its population, Lebanon was hosting the largest number of refugees of any country in the world in 2024, accounting for one in eight of the population. Lebanon's already complex situation was further complicated in September 2024 when the war between Israel and Hezbollah displaced nearly a million people within the country. By the end of April, there were still 90,000 people internally displaced in Lebanon. But between September and October last year the conflict led to an estimated 557,000 people fleeing Lebanon for Syria — of whom over 60 percent were Syrians who had originally sought sanctuary in Lebanon. The issue of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa has become a delicate matter in Europe, with right-wing parties winning votes over the issue and centrist governments taking anti-migrant stances to assuage increasingly angry voters. 'But contrary to perceptions in the global North,' Argaz said, '60 percent of forcibly displaced people stay within their own country, as internally displaced people. Of those who leave as refugees, 67 percent go to neighboring countries — low and middle-income countries host 73 percent of the world's refugees.' For example, at the end of 2024, almost 80 percent of the 6.1 million Syrian refugees and asylum-seekers were hosted by neighboring countries — 2.9 million in Turkiye, 755,000 in Lebanon, 611,000 in Jordan, 304,000 in Iraq and 134,000 in Egypt. The situation in Sudan and South Sudan is particularly perilous. Sudan's two million refugees, although scattered across dozens of countries, from Algeria to Zimbabwe, are concentrated mainly in Chad, South Sudan and Libya, with tens of thousands each in countries including Egypt, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia and Uganda, with sizable numbers in the UK and France. Despite offering refuge to almost half a million refugees from Sudan, 2.29 million South Sudanese are seeking sanctuary elsewhere — in Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and, in a reflection of the internecine nature of the violence in the region, Sudan. For all the world's refugees and internally displaced, UNHCR is the lifeline on which they depend, both for support while displaced and upon returning to shattered lives and homes. But with donor nations slashing funds, this work is under threat. 'Severe cuts in global funding announced this year have caused upheaval across the humanitarian sector, putting millions of lives at risk,' Argaz said. 'We call for continuing funding of UNHCR programs that save lives, assist refugees and IDPs returning home and reinforce basic infrastructure and social services in host communities as an essential investment in regional and global security. 'In addition, more responsibility sharing from the rest of the world with the countries that host the bulk of refugees is crucial and needed.' In December, UNHCR announced it had secured a record $1.5 billion in early funding from several countries for 2025. But, as Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees, said at the time, 'generous as it is, humanitarian funding is not keeping pace with the growing needs.' The funding commitment of $1.5 billion represents only 15 percent of the estimated $10.248 billion UNHCR says it will need for the whole of 2025. Of that total, the single largest proportions, $2.167 and $2.122 billion respectively, will be spent on projects in East Africa and in the Middle East and North Africa.
Al Arabiya
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Syria maintains neutrality as Iran-Israel conflict escalates over its skies
For days, Syrians have watched as Iranian missiles and Israeli interceptors light up the skies over their territory, but the new government in Damascus has so far remained officially silent on the unprecedented conflict. Iran was one of former ruler Bashar al-Assad's biggest backers, playing a crucial role in propping up his government by providing military advisers and the support of affiliated armed groups throughout the 14-year Syrian civil war. Israel, meanwhile, has occupied the Golan Heights since seizing it from Syria in 1967, and has kept troops in a UN-patrolled buffer zone there since December, when the fall of al-Assad at the hands of a coalition sparked a wave of Israeli air strikes on military targets. But despite both countries looming large in Syrian affairs over the years, Damascus -- and everyday Syrians -- appear eager to keep the current crisis at arm's length. 'From my balcony at night, I watch the missiles going towards Israel and the anti-missile systems, and I observe the explosions in the sky,' said surgeon Mohammed Khayr al-Jirudi. 'The people are fed up with everything related to killing and destruction, we've had enough. Therefore, we are currently in the position of spectators to both sides, and will not gloat over either of them.' On Friday, Israel launched an unprecedented campaign against Iran, saying it aimed to stop the country from obtaining the nuclear bomb -- an ambition Tehran denies. Iran has responded with barrages of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli cities, with the exchanges of fire sparking fears of regional spillover. Unlike most Arab countries, which issued strong condemnations of Israel's strikes, Syria's new government has not commented on the war, potentially signaling a shift in the country's regional posture. 'It is very difficult for us to take a stand,' Jirudi said, with many war-weary Syrians seeming to share the government's reluctance. 'Both dictatorial systems' Sitting with his wife in Damascus' famous Rawda cafe, 42-year-old actor Ahmad Malas said he hoped to 'be rid of both the Iranian and Israeli regimes, as they are both dictatorial systems (and) Syrian people have been paying the price for their actions.' However, he added, 'I have an emotional connection with the Iranian people, and with the Palestinian people, as their cause has been ours for a long time.' Iran's support for al-Assad following his violent repression of peaceful protests in 2011 created strong animosity towards Tehran among many Syrians. Thousands of Iranians left Syria after the fall of al-Assad, and Tehran's embassy was subjected to looting and vandalism. The walls surrounding the embassy in Damascus still bear the spray-painted slogans 'curse Iran' and 'free Iran.' Since becoming Syria's interim president, former leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has repeatedly criticized Iran's role in his country during the civil war, stating that restoring relations with Tehran will require respect for Syria's 'sovereignty' and 'non-interference' in its affairs. Iran has said it is 'not in a hurry' to establish ties with the new Syrian authorities. Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on Syria since al-Assad's fall, saying it aimed to stop advanced weapons from reaching the new rulers, whom it considers extremists. Israeli troops in the UN-patrolled buffer zone between Syria and the Golan Heights have also regularly carried out ground incursions, condemned by Damascus. Syria admitted to holding indirect talks with Israel seeking de-escalation, and the United States has called for it to normalize ties with its southern neighbor. 'Neutrality' Amid the breaches of Syria's airspace, at least one civilian has been killed and several others injured by fallen debris from intercepted projectiles. The Syrian foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the war. 'Damascus adheres to a policy of neutrality... It tries to completely distance itself from the war and any mention of it, because Syria has no interest in getting involved,' said Bassam al-Suleiman, a political analyst close to the new authorities. As the government tries to kickstart post-war economic recovery and reconstruction, Syria's primary battle is 'internal,' according to Suleiman. He added that while 'both Israel and Iran are a source of danger, we have no stake in this war,' which he said Syria should 'avoid.' From a rooftop nightclub overlooking Damascus, a 27-year-old doctor who gave her name as Sarah watched the flash of missiles in the sky. 'We try to forget the atmosphere of war by spending time here with friends,' she said. 'However, I still fear that some effects of the war will reach us.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Damascus Says Israel Arrested Civilians During Beit Jin Raid
A source at the Syrian Interior Ministry denied Israeli claims that its forces had arrested Palestinian Hamas members during a raid on the southern village of Beit Jin in the early hours of Thursday. The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the detainees were civilians and not affiliated with any party. Saleh Daher, a resident of Beit Jin, told Asharq Al-Awsat the Israeli soldiers entered the village at 2:40 am on Thursday. 'We were awakened by the sound of gunfire,' he revealed. A unit of dozens of soldiers were raiding the village, while ten tanks were stationed at its entrance. The forces surrounded the houses of the people they wanted to arrest, calling out their names on loudspeakers. They detained seven people, continued Daher. One person, who is known in the village for having a mental disability, attempted to stop the soldiers, who shot and killed him, he said. The soldiers left at 4:15 am after detaining the people they were after. Daher said they were all Syrian natives of the village and used to be members of armed opposition groups that rose up against the Bashar al-Assad's ousted regime. Sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat the names of the detainees: Amer al-Badawi, Mamoun al-Saadi, Ahmed al-Safadi, Mohammed al-Safadi, Hassan al-Safadi, Mohammed Badi Hamadeh and Ali Qassem Hamadeh. Daher said he and his family had returned to Beit Jin in 2018 and that they never noticed any behavior by the detainees that they were working against Israel. Israel had previously assassinated three residents of the village. They too were members of armed factions. Moreover, Daher said he hasn't noticed any activity by residents that indicate that they are members of or associated with Palestinian factions. The Israeli army said it detained Hamas members during the Beit Jin raid and that they were planning attacks against it. They have been taken to Israel for investigation. The army also said it discovered weapons in the area. Syrian media confirmed the arrest of seven people and death of one person during the raid. Since the fall of Assad's government in early December, Israeli forces have moved into several areas in southern Syria and conducted hundreds of airstrikes throughout the country, destroying much of the assets of the Syrian army. Tensions ticked up in early June after projectiles were fired from Syria towards Israel. Israel retaliated with its first strikes in nearly a month. On June 8, Israel carried out a strike on the outskirts of Beit Jin on what it described as a Hamas member. A resident of the village denied the claim, saying Israel targeted a youth called Anas Abboud and that he was a former member of a Syrian opposition armed group.
