united nations

Syrians in Lebanon: A Pivotal Moment of Hope and a Political Deadlock

Following the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a new chapter is unfolding in Lebanon, where the large-scale presence of Syrian refugees has disrupted the demographic balance since the onset of the 2011 Syrian conflict. Lebanon initially absorbed a significant influx of refugees, who now make up over a third of the country's ...

Mikati Reaffirms Lebanon's Commitment to UN Resolution 1701

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to fully implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 during a meeting on Wednesday. Mikati also called on Israel to “honor the ceasefire agreement” announced on November 27, and urged the country to “withdraw from the towns and villages in southern ...

Syrian Rescuers Urge Russia to Push Assad for Secret Prison Maps

Syria's White Helmet rescuers on Tuesday called on Russia to pressure former president Bashar al-Assad into providing maps of secret jails and lists of detainees as they race against time to release prisoners. The rescuers said they "sent a request to the United Nations through an international mediator to demand that Russia pressure... Assad ...

Access to Syria 'Crime Scene' a 'Game-Changer': UN Investigator

UN investigators who for years have been gathering evidence of horrific crimes committed in Syria hope Bashar al-Assad's downfall will finally mean they can access "the crime scene" and "massive evidence". "There is a sea change," said Robert Petit, a Canadian prosecutor and legal scholar who heads the United Nations investigative body known as ...

UN Watchdog Warns Syria to Safeguard Chemical Weapons Stockpiles

The United Nations chemical watchdog OPCW said Monday it had warned Syrian authorities to make sure suspected stockpiles of chemical weapons were safe after the overthrow of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. The OPCW said it had contacted Syria "with a view to emphasising the paramount importance of ensuring the safety and security of all chemical ...

Political Transition in Syria Must Include "Accountability": UN

Any political transition in Syria following the fall of president Bashar al-Assad must include accountability for him and others behind crimes committed under his rule, the UN rights chief said Monday. "Any political transition must ensure accountability for perpetrators of serious violations and guarantee that those responsible are held to ...

Turkey Calls For an "Inclusive" Government in Syria

Turkey's top diplomat called on Monday for an "inclusive" new government in Syria after Islamist-led rebels toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad following a lightning advance. "We expect international actors, especially the United Nations, to reach out to the Syrian people and support the establishment of an inclusive administration," Foreign ...

Syrian army lost control of Hama

The Syrian army lost control of Hama, according to the Syrian news agency, Sana. The rebels took control of the city and freed all prisoners detained in the central incarceration center. Syrian government forces were locked in heavy fighting around the central city of Hama on Thursday morning, trying to halt an advance of Islamist-led rebels, a ...

Council of Ministers: LAF Is the Only Option in Southern Lebanon

Caretaker Information Minister, Ziad Makary, emphasized that the Lebanese government “believes in the army’s abilities as it is charged with implementing UN Resolution 1701 with the approval of the whole government,” noting that “there is no other option.” After a cabinet session held on Wednesday and in response to questions of ...

UN Reports Over 115,000 Newly Displaced in Syria

More than 115,000 people have been "newly displaced" in Syria's Idlib and Aleppo provinces, a UN official said Wednesday, following a major rebel offensive in the north. "It's been one week since the conflict escalated in Syria. More than 115,000 people have now been newly displaced across Idlib and northern Aleppo," UN deputy regional ...

Syrian Government Launches Counteroffensive Against Rebels

A Syrian war monitor said Wednesday that government forces have launched a counteroffensive near Hama, pushing back Islamist-led rebels seeking to advance on the key central city. Hama was a bastion of opposition to the government of President Bashar al-Assad early in the country's civil war, which erupted in 2011. It was also the scene of a ...

UN Warns "World on Fire", As it Seeks $47bn for Aid

The UN appealed Wednesday for more than $47 billion to deliver vital aid next year, warning surging conflicts and the climate crisis will leave hundreds of millions of people in need. "The world is on fire," the United Nations' new humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told reporters in Geneva, acknowledging he was looking ahead to 2025 with ...