Press Release

Joint Statement on the recent hostilities in Syria, by UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Ramanathan Balakrishnan

08 March 2025

We are following closely the disturbing developments in coastal and central areas in Syria, with reports of heavy weaponry in use. Since Thursday, escalating hostilities in Tartous, Lattakia, Homs, and Hama Governorates, have resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, displacement, damage to civilian infrastructure, while access to affected areas remains heavily restricted.

The situation remains highly fluid, with unverified numbers of civilian deaths and injuries, including a UNRWA staff member, who lost his life on Jableh bridge on Thursday. Thousands of people have reportedly been displaced in the coastal areas. Several civilians injured were reportedly referred to hospitals in Homs Governorate.

The impact on critical civilian infrastructure is severe. Six referral hospitals and several ambulances have been rendered inoperable due to the fighting, while the Homs-Latakia highway remains blocked. Since yesterday, Latakia Governorate has experienced a widespread electricity outage.

These incidents had direct impact on the Humanitarian operations which have been severely disrupted. All humanitarian missions to and within coastal areas have been suspended, and aid workers have been advised to remain indoors. Curfews and movement restrictions continue to hinder access to essential services.

We urge all parties to immediately cease hostilities and spare civilians, civilian infrastructure, and aid operations, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law, ensuring the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and allowing for the immediate, safe, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need.

We extend our deepest condolences to all those who have lost loved ones and wish the injured a speedy recovery.

English

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Adam Abdelmoula

RCO

Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator

abdelmoula@un.org

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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