Secretary-General Expresses Concern Over Violent Escalation in SUNyria’s Coastal Areas

 UN Secretary-General António Guterres has voiced deep concern over the violent escalation in Syria’s coastal regions, where widespread killings have been reported, including the massacre of entire families. Additionally, a staff member from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has gone missing, according to a UN spokesperson.

Guterres urged all parties in Syria to protect civilians, curb sectarian rhetoric, and stop incitement, emphasizing that the country continues to suffer from 14 years of conflict and more than five decades of authoritarian rule.

Rising Tensions and Calls for Accountability

The Secretary-General highlighted growing tensions among local communities in Syria and stressed the urgent need to end the bloodshed, hold perpetrators accountable, and address societal concerns in a meaningful way.

He also acknowledged Syria’s announcement of a fact-finding committee and a civil peace committee, emphasizing the importance of transitional justice and inclusive reconciliation for achieving lasting peace.

Concerns Over Misinformation and Media Freedom

The UN called for ensuring the protection of independent media and human rights organizations, stressing the importance of transparent reporting and verification of information amid the spread of misinformation.

Humanitarian Crisis and Infrastructure Damage

The escalating violence has severely impacted civilians and infrastructure, with reports indicating that hundreds of people—including women, children, and medical workers—have been killed. Thousands have been displaced, and many have fled to Lebanon.

Key humanitarian concerns include:

Power outages in Latakia, leading to water supply disruptions.

School closures in Latakia and Tartus.

The closure of the Homs-Latakia highway, restricting humanitarian access.

Severe damage to six major hospitals and several ambulances.

Urgent need for medical support in the affected regions.

International Calls for Justice and Political Resolution

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen briefed the UN Security Council on Monday, expressing his readiness to support a Syrian-led political transition in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015).

Meanwhile, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk called for a swift, transparent, and impartial investigation into the killings and other violations, stressing that perpetrators must be held accountable under international law.

Earlier this week, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria Adam Abdelmoula and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syrian Crisis Ramanathan Balakrishnan urged all parties to protect civilians, safeguard infrastructure, and ensure unimpeded humanitarian access.