United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has dispatched his Deputy for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, to Damascus to negotiate with Syria’s new leadership on expanding humanitarian aid efforts. The announcement was made by the UN Secretary-General’s office.
On Monday, Fletcher met with Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the leader of the armed factions now in power in Damascus, as well as Mohammed al-Bashir, head of Syria’s transitional government. The discussions focused on intensifying efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance in light of recent developments in Syria.
Guterres underscored the need for coordinated actions to support Syria’s population during this transitional period. He commended the interim government’s commitments to safeguarding civilians, including humanitarian workers.
The secretary-general highlighted the importance of agreements reached with the new authorities, such as ensuring full humanitarian access through all border crossings, streamlining bureaucratic procedures for obtaining permits and visas for aid workers, and maintaining essential public services like healthcare and education. He also welcomed their willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with the humanitarian community.
In late November, armed opposition forces launched a significant offensive against Syrian army positions. On December 8, they entered Damascus, prompting former leader Bashar al-Assad to resign as president and leave the country. On December 10, Mohammed al-Bashir, who had led the opposition’s Salvation Government in Idlib province, announced his appointment as the head of Syria’s transitional government. This government is set to remain in place until March 1, 2025.
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Photo: Eiso Vaandrager/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS