HAMILTON, Canada

The UN on Tuesday called for urgent international action to ease sanctions on Syria to overcome the "immediate challenges" towards recovery after the collapse of a 14-year Assad regime.

Stressing the significance of lifting restrictions to facilitate economic rehabilitation, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen told the Security Council that "Syrians need an economic future, and they need serious international support to enable it."

"We also need to see fast and broad sanctions easing, with relevant targeted and sectoral suspensions including in energy, investments, finance, health and education," he said.

Highlighting the economic hardships faced by Syrians, Pedersen stressed that "It is essential that sanctioning states consider the important restrictions that still persist and that hamper response."

Pedersen warned of security concerns following the collapse of the Assad regime, noting that attacks by regime-affiliated armed groups continue to destabilize the country.

He also raised the alarm about Israeli military actions in Syria, reiterating his call for the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

"I am concerned by Israeli statements on the intention to stay in Syria 'for the foreseeable future' as well as demands for the 'full demilitarization of southern Syria,’" he said, urging the Council "to hold Israel to its commitment that this is a temporary presence and stress that Israel must withdraw and respect Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and independence."

The collapse of the 61-year-old Baathist regime in Syria on Dec. 8 coincided with an escalation of Israeli military attacks on the country.

The Israeli army began destroying military infrastructure and facilities left by the regime's army and expanded its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights.

Israeli forces, which entered the buffer zone around the Golan Heights, carried the occupation further and penetrated as far as 25 kilometers (15.53 miles) from Damascus.

- 'There is no time to spare' in Syria's recovery

UN relief chief Tom Fletcher reinforced the call for urgent action, and described the situation as fragile.

"We are under no illusions about the grim financial outlook for humanitarian support globally," he said. He noted that last year's aid appeal was only 35% funded, forcing the UN to reduce humanitarian operations by more than half.

"This year, we are appealing for $2 billion to reach 8 million of the most vulnerable people through June. We have received only about $155 million to date -- just 13% of what we need," Fletcher said, warning that cuts to funding do not mean humanitarian needs disappear.

Emphasizing the importance of rebuilding Syria's infrastructure to support long-term recovery, he said: "After 14 years of conflict and devastation, the people of Syria have had barely 14 weeks to chart a new path towards a better future. There are real reasons for hope, based on how far they have come,” he said. "The cost of hesitation is greater than the risk of decisive action.”

Warning the Council that "there is no time to spare," Fletcher urged the international community to "be problem solvers rather than problem observers."