This week, Paulo Pinheiro gave an interview to UN News following his presentation of the most recent report to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly. The report covers various topics related to social issues, humanitarian affairs, and human rights.

The ongoing Syrian conflict, which started in March 2011, is currently at its most severe state in four years, according to the speaker. They emphasized that the increasing levels of violence are not a result of any other war.

International involvement

He stated that the cause of this frustration is the involvement of various Member States in the area of operation. He listed Turkey, Russia, the United States, and other forces linked to the Kurdish community in the northeastern region.

In August 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva created the Commission of Inquiry to examine any reported violations of international human rights laws in Syria throughout the course of the conflict.

Even though it was not part of his duties, Mr. Pinheiro mentioned two incidents in Syria that he believes are connected to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The first involves Israeli airstrikes on the airports in Damascus and Aleppo, which are vital for delivering humanitarian aid to the country.

The speaker stated that another complicating factor is the involvement of Hezbollah, which serves as both a political and military presence in Lebanon and also operates in Syria.

‘Competition’ for coverage

Mr. Pinheiro expressed regret over the struggle for exposure in the global media, stating that it is challenging to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict in Syria.

The United Nations and its collaborators are still addressing the vast humanitarian needs in Syria, where the number of people requiring aid has risen by 9 percent from last year to over 15 million.

The United Nations recently approved the restart of aid shipments into northwest Syria through a border crossing with Turkey.

In July, the Bab al-Hawa border crossing was shut down when the UN Security Council could not come to an agreement on two different resolutions regarding the renewal of the aid corridor.

Approximately four million individuals residing in the northwestern region of Syria, which is the final remaining area controlled by rebel forces, depend on this vital resource. This network was put into place almost ten years ago with the passing of a resolution by the United Nations Security Council.

In February, there were destructive earthquakes on both sides of the border, causing an increase in demands for aid in affected communities.

Source: news.un.org