Press Release

Statement On the recent attack on the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria by UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula [EN/AR]

24 October 2024

On 22 October, an airstrike on the main road at the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria – the second in less than three weeks – has rendered this vital route impassable. 

The crossing is the main route for people escaping the escalating hostilities in Lebanon to Syria.

In addition to blocking the flow of life-saving humanitarian aid, this latest attack is forcing parents to carry their children and belongings as they navigate their way between two huge craters in the road in a bid to seek safety.

It is unacceptable for this critical lifeline for tens of thousands of civilians, including women and children, to be struck – not once, but twice.

There have also been airstrikes close to other border crossings between the two countries. These airstrikes are driving people to find alternative routes, which can take longer and be more perilous, into Syria.

I call for an immediate end to such attacks, which pose serious risks to people fleeing danger. Civilians must be protected at all times and wherever they are.

 

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.

Adam Abdelmoula

Adam Abdelmoula

RCO
Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator
Mr. Abdelmoula brings more than 35 years of experience in development, rule of law, human rights, humanitarian work and security, of which the last 24 have been with the UN.
Prior to his appointment as United Nations Resident Coordinator, he was serving as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, where he led the UN’s development and humanitarian activities amid the worst drought in generations, political instability, disease outbreaks and a looming famine.
Prior to this, Mr. Abdelmoula held different positions within the UN System, including as Director of the UN Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); Country Director for Iraq at the UN Development Programme (UNDP); Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative in Syria and Kuwait, Chief of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Section at OHCHR, Deputy Chief of the United Nations Mission in Liberia Human Rights Division, Chief Human Rights Officer of the United Nation Assistant Mission for Iraq and Senior Rule of Law and Human Rights Adviser for Somalia.
Before joining the UN, Mr. Abdelmoula worked for several international and regional organizations including Human Rights Watch, Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, the Arab Lawyers Union and the Fund for Peace.
Mr. Abdelmoula has a doctorate in public international law from Georgetown University, a Master of Law from Harvard Law School and Bachelor of Law from Khartoum University.

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