HAMILTON, Canada

Senior UN officials on Wednesday urged the international community to intensify support for Syria's political transition and deepening humanitarian needs, warning that sanctions and underfunded aid efforts continue to hinder the country's recovery.

"After five decades of dictatorship and 14 years of war, Syria seeks to build a new era," UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Najat Rochdi said at a Security Council session on Syria, noting that "the challenges are truly daunting in making good on the commitments made to the Syrian people on an inclusive political transition, in dealing with the past and in rebuilding the economy."

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) estimates that more than a million Syrian refugees have returned, a trend Rochdi said reflects progress but still requires greater engagement.

"Much has been done in terms of reassurance and problem-solving internationally. We hope that this can be matched with deeper outreach domestically, to ensure stability and social cohesion," she added.

She welcomed the Security Council's recent decision to remove sanctions designations on Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab, describing it as "an important step toward reintegrating Syria into the international community."

Citing the US waivers of most Caesar Act restrictions, she further urged "the repeal of mandatory secondary sanctions. These are a key impediment to enabling reconstruction and reviving the devastated Syrian economy, which is indispensable to stability and a successful political transition."

On Israel's continued military operations in Syrian territories, she warned that "Israeli military operations and incursions into Syrian territory continue, in grave violation of Syria's sovereignty and of international law. They endanger civilians, inflame regional tensions, undermine the fragile security environment, and threaten the political transition."

Rochdi said she received "a strong appeal" from Syria's foreign minister for UN action, adding: "I call for Israel's violations to cease and for adherence to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. And I appeal to the Security Council to assume its responsibilities in this regard."

On the humanitarian situation, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' (OCHA) Lisa Doughten, speaking on behalf of UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, stressed the scale of needs across the country.

"The stakes are immense, particularly for the more than 16 million people across the country who need humanitarian assistance," she told the council.

She reported that "more than 1.2 million refugees have now returned from neighboring countries since last December" and that "more than 1.9 million people who were displaced internally have also returned," but warned that many still face severe hardship.

"In interviews with UNHCR, 70% of returning refugees say they face food shortages," she added.

Despite low funding, Doughten said: "The UN and our partners continue to reach 3.4 million people on average each month across Syria — 24% more than the same period last year — despite lower funding, thanks to improved access and operational conditions."

With the Syria response only "26% funded," Doughten urged donors to act urgently, especially as partners attempt to assist 2 million people with winter supplies but have received just "12%" of the required funding.

Stressing that recovery must extend beyond emergency aid, she said: “The people of Syria do not want to rely on emergency aid," calling for "concrete, targeted and large-scale investment in development and reconstruction."