The UN Department of Public Information (DPI) had developed this product to share information on and highlight what the UN was doing to respond to the Syria crisis. The bulletin aimed at providing a snapshot of the latest UN activities to address the crisis, gathered from open source material.
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- No. 239 – 21 March 2018 (last issue)
covers UNHCR’s warning that fierce fighting in Eastern Ghouta and Afrin causes massive displacement, UN relief official in Syria urging humanitarian access amid catastrophic situation in Afrin and Eastern Ghouta, and the Security Council failing to hold a public meeting on the human rights situation in Syria following a procedural vote called by Russia - No. 238 – 14 March 2018
covers the joint appeal by the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization for peace and humanitarian access as the Syria conflict enters its eighth year, the UN’s concerns about the large displacement of civilians due to ongoing fighting in the northern city of Afrin and Secretary-General António Guterres’ briefing to the Security Council on the situation in Eastern Ghouta - No. 237 – 7 March 2018
covers the Secretary-General’s appeal to all parties to the conflict to allow more humanitarian convoys in Douma, in Eastern Ghouta to deliver aid to people in need, Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s consultations with Iran, Turkey and Russia in a bid to advance the UN-facilitated Geneva political process, and the Human Rights Council‘s call for an international independent inquiry into recent events in Eastern Ghouta - No. 236 – 28 February 2018
covers the adoption by the Security Council of a resolution unanimously demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities in Syria to allow the delivery of aid to civilians in need, the briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock on the implementation of the ceasefire, the appeal by the Secretary-General to end the “hell on earth” in Eastern Ghouta as violence continued - No. 235 – 21 February 2018
covers Secretary-General António Guterres’ warning of the human tragedy unfolding in Eastern Ghouta and his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the condemnation by the Regional Coordinator for the Syria crisis of the latest attacks against medical facilities in Eastern Ghouta, UNDP Administrator’s visit to Lebanon to assess the impact of the Syria conflict, and UN Refugee chief’s praise for Turkey hosting the largest number of refugees in the world. - No. 234 – 14 February 2018
covers Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s briefing to the Security Council in which he raised alarm over the increased military intervention from different sources in Syria, a UN- Syrian Arab Red Crescent aid convoy reaching civilians in besieged areas near Damascus for the first time in three months, the call by the Secretary-General and several senior UN officials in Syria for an immediate end to hostilities as civilians suffer the worst violence since the start of the conflict, and the EU’s Euro 3 million contribution for Palestine refugees in Syria - No. 233 – 7 February 2018
covers the call by senior UN officials in Syria for a month-long end to hostilities as the humanitarian situation is worsening throughout the country, the Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs’ briefing to the Security Council on the continued investigation into all allegations on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, the Secretary-General’s press remarks on the UN-facilitated peace process following the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi, and WHO medical aid convoy reaching north east Syria, and UN sending two cross-border aid convoys into Idlib governorate from Turkey - No. 232 – 31 January 2018
covers the participation of UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura in the Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue in Sochi, UN Deputy Relief Chief Ursula Mueller’s briefing to the Security Council in which she warned of the devastating effect of ongoing violence on civilians, and the condemnation by the UN of the targeting of hospital and medical facilities in northern Syria - No. 231 – 24 January 2018
covers the Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura’s announcement of a new round of intra-Syrian talks in Vienna next week, UNRWA’s appeal to Member States for financial support following the US’ decision to reduce its contribution to the agency, and the UN’s alarm at the impact on civilians of the escalating violence across Syria - No. 230 – 17 February 2018
- No. 229 – 11 January 2018
covers the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator’s visit to Syria, UN OHCHR’s concern over civilian casualties, the plight of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and the UN concern for the safety and protection of tens of thousands of people in southern Idleb and rural Hama - No. 228 – 3 January 2018
covers UNFPA delivering aid to previously unreached Sheikh Maqsoud in Aleppo, the European Commission Providing Vital Support for WFP Food Assistance in Syria
- No. 227 – 27 December 2017
covers the Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s participation in Astana peace talks, the Special Advisor to the Special Envoy Jan Egeland’s warning that no UN aid had reached civilians trapped in besieged areas in December, UNHCR steps up its cash assistance to help refugees prepare for winter, and the renewal by the Security Council of the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in the Golan Heights - No. 226 – 20 December 2017
covers the UN Envoy’s briefing to the Security Council on the conclusion of the eighth round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, the Security Council’s renewal of the Syria cross-border relief convoys, and Kuwait’s US$5 million contribution each to UNRWA and WFP in support of Palestine refugees in Syria and Syrians in inside and outside the country - No. 225 – 13 December 2017
covers the launch by UN and partners of a humanitarian appeal for funds to help five million Syrian refugees, the second week of Intra-Syrian talks mediated by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura in Geneva, and UNICEF sounding the alarm on the situation of children in East Ghouta and urgent need for aid and medical access to the besieged area - No. 224 – 7 December 2017
covers updates on the ongoing intra-Syrian talks taking place in Geneva, UNHCR’s study uncovering shocking sexual violence against Syrian refugee boys and men, the UN appeals for urgent efforts to enable the safe evacuations from besieged eastern Ghouta, and the Security Council meeting discussing global efforts to stop destruction and smuggling of cultural heritage - No. 223 – 29 November 2017
covers the start of the 8th round of Intra-Syrian talks in Geneva facilitated by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock’s briefing to the Security Council in which he noted that more than 13 million people are in need of humanitarian aid, UNICEF’s warning about increasing malnutrition among children besieged in East Ghouta, and the Head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov’s call to the international community for cooperation to tackle the issue of returning foreign terrorist fighters - No. 222 – 22 November 2017
covers the Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s participation in a meeting of Syrian opposition convened by Saudi Arabia as part of preparations for the 8th round of Geneva talks, the release of the Syria Humanitarian Needs Overview 2018 report which shows that more than 13 million Syrians remain in need of humanitarian assistance, nearly 715,000 Syrians returned home this year, and the failure by the Security Council to extend the mandate of the panel investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria - No. 221 – 15 November 2017
covers the delivery of humanitarian assistance to more than 20,000 civilians by an inter-agency convoy in Duma city, the World Health Organization’s appeal for an end to attacks on civilians and immediate aid access in eastern Ghouta amid a worsening situation, and the intensive consultations of Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura in preparation for the next round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva - No. 220 – 8 November 2017
covers the presentation to the Security Council by the Head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (OPCW-UN JIM), Edmond Mulet, of the findings of the investigation into chemical weapons attacks in Umm Hawsh and Khan Sheikhoun, the UN sounding the alarm about the situation of thousands of civilians besieged in east Ghouta, and High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi’s appeal to the international community to find solutions to global displacement - No. 219 – 1 November 2017
covers the Secretary-General’s appeal for greater protection for children affected by armed conflict, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock’s warning that more than 13 million people are in need of humanitarian aid across Syria, the convening of an 8th round of Intra-Syrian talks in Geneva by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights describing the situation in Eastern Ghouta as an outrage - No. 218 – 25 October 2017
covers the UN Security Council’s failure to extend the mandate of the panel investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria, the UN concern over civilians in Raqqa at risk of death and injury from unexploded ordnance and WHO’s efforts to step up delivery of medical services and supplies to people in Raqqa, the call by the Secretary-General for all sides involved in the fight in Raqqa to protect civilians, abide by international law and allow for humanitarian access, the delivery of humanitarian assistance by an inter-agency convoy in hard-to-reach Dar al-Kabira, and the Special Envoy’s remarks following his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister in Moscow - No. 217 – 19 October 2017
covers the UN’s concerns about the humanitarian situation in Raqqa city after takeover by Syrian Democratic Forces, the delivery of humanitarian assistance by an inter-agency convoy in besieged Al-Qaboun, the destruction of UNICEF-sponsored cold room keeping vaccines in Der ez-Zour, and the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Chile through a UN-backed programme - No. 216 – 11 October 2017
covers the UN’s concerns about the large displacement of civilians due to ongoing fighting in Deir ez-Zor governorate, the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria’s report saying September was the deadliest month of 2017 for civilians, and the completion by UNESCO of the restoration of a statue in Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site - No. 215 – 4 October 2017
covers the UNHCR’s concerns about the serious funding shortage it is facing for assistance to refugees in the Middle East ahead of the winter season, the UN’s appeal to all parties to protect civilians caught in the fighting in several parts of Syria, and Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s briefing to the Security Council in which he called for the resumption of Geneva talks next month - No. 214 – 27 September 2017
covers Reports of airstrike killing people fleeing ISIL in rural Hama, says UN official, Reports of a school in rural Idlib being hit by an airstrike, Intern-agency convoy delivers assistance to besieged towns in rural Damascus, Call by the Emergency Relief Coordinator for sustained international attention and engagement to address immense humanitarian needs in Syria, and UNHCR and League of Arab States sign agreement to address refugee challenges in the Arab region - No. 213 – 20 September 2017
covers the condemnation by WHO of recent attacks on medical personnel and facilities in Idlib province, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria‘s report documenting violations of human rights law and abuses perpetrated against civilians by warring parties, Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s welcoming the agreement reached in Astana on setting up de-escalation zones in Syria - No. 212 – 6 September 2017
covers the Report of the Cluster Munition Coalition saying that Syria has the highest number of casualties in the last year, the Statement by the High Commissioner for Human Rights that those fighting ISIS are losing sight of the obligation to protect civilians, the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide expressing deep concern at the deteriorating situation of up to 25,000 civilians trapped in Syria’s Raqqa, and Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s telling the UN Security Council that it was time to shift from the logic of war and putting the interest of the Syrian people first - No. 211 – 23 August 2017
covers the condemnation by senior UN humanitarian officials in Syria of the killing of civilians in Raqqa due to continued airstrikes, the completion of a polio vaccination of more than 350,000 children in hard to reach areas, and Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s press conference in which he expressed hope that the intra-Syrian talks will reconvene in Geneva next month - No. 210 – 16 August 2017
covers the UN’s concern over the safety of civilians stuck on the border between Syria and Jordan, IOM’s findings on displacement within and outside Syria, and highlights UNRWA’s Engaging Youth on the occasion of the International Youth Day - No. 209 – 9 August 2017
covers the UN’s concerns about the safety and protection of civilians trapped in Raqqa city amid ongoing fighting, the Special Coordinator for Lebanon’s praise for the Government of Lebanon for its generosity in hosting Syrian refugees, and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism study on the phenomenon of Foreign Terrorist Fighters in Syria - No. 208 – 2 August 2017
covers the UN’s concern for the safety and protection of civilians trapped inside Raqqa, Medical and nutrition items being delivered to eastern Ghouta, Briefing to the Security Council from Amman, Jordan, by the Deputy UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Ursula Mueller, and Clooney Foundation for Justice partnering with UNICEF to open seven public schools for Syrian refugee children - No. 207 – 27 July 2017
covers UN’s concerns about the protection of civilians in eastern Ghouta amid continued airstrikes, WHO’s report of increased attacks on health facilities, as well as the launch of a polio vaccination campaign in Deir-ez-Zor and Raqqa - No. 206 – 19 July 2017
covers the conclusion of the seventh round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, the United Nations concerns about the safety of thousands of civilians trapped in Raqqa, and a FAO and WFP study which found that seven million Syrians in Syria remain food insecure - No. 205 – 12 July 2017
covers the start of the seventh round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva facilitated by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, the aid deliveries to Raqqa governorate by UN agencies and partners through a newly opened road, the Secretary-General’s statement welcoming the announcement by Jordan, Russia and the United States of a de-escalation zone in south west Syria, and the head of the chemical weapons investigative panel speaking out against the politicized environment in which his team has to work - No. 204 – 28 June 2017
covers the High Commissioner for Human Right Zeid Ra ad Al Hussein’s appeal to the parties fighting Da’esh in Ar-Raqqa to protect the civilians trapped in the city, the Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s briefing to the Security Council on latest diplomatic efforts regarding the “de-escalation” zones in Syria, the delivery of much needed humanitarian aid by a UN inter-agency convoy in Rural Homs - No. 203 – 21 June 2017
covers the Secretary-General’s urgent appeal to all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and allow immediate humanitarian access, the confirmation by WHO of new polio cases in Syria, the appointment of a Syrian refugee as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and the announcement by Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura that the intra-Syrian talks will resume on 10 July in Geneva - No. 202 – 14 June 2017
covers the announcement by Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura that the next round of Intra-Syrian talks may take place in July in Geneva, the Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro ‘s appeal to address human rights violations in abuses committed in Syria, the delivery of much needed food assistance to displaced families in Deir Ezzor and Raqqa, Secretary-General’s statement in favour of UNRWA, and UNICEF’s statement that over 40,000 children are at risk in Raqqa - No. 201 – 7 June 2017
covers High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein’s address to the Human Rights Council in which he decried the lack of cooperation of several countries, including Syria, UNHCR’s warning about the urgent funding needed for assistance to refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, the UN’s renewed call for the protection of civilians and unimpeded aid access across Syria - No. 200 – 31 May 2017
covers Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’Brien’s warning to the Security Council of the worsening humanitarian conditions in Syria, UNHCR’s appeal to Algeria and Morocco to allow access to dozens of stranded Syrian refugees at the border between the two countries, and Secretary-General António Guterres’ condemnation of rising attacks on medical workers and facilities in Syria during a Security Council debate - No. 199 – 24 May 2017
covers the UN Disarmament Chief’s briefing to the Security Council in which she said that the OPCW fact finding mission in Syria had confirmed the use of sulfur mustard during an attack on civilians, the conclusion of the sixth round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, WHO’s response to the deteriorating health situation in Raqqa, thousands of people being displaced from Raqqa, and delivery of aid to hard to reach areas in Rural Damascus - No. 198 – 18 May 2017
covers the opening of the sixth round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva under the mediation of Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, Deputy Special Envoy Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy’s visit to Damascus ahead of the resumption of the Geneva negotiations, UN’s concerns about the humanitarian situation of hundreds of people displaced by flooding in the northern city of Raqqa, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons report confirming that mustard gas was used during an attack in Aleppo - No. 197 – 10 May 2017
covers the announcement by UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura that he will reconvene the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva on 16 May, the Secretary-General’s statement welcoming an agreement reached in Kazakhstan between the three guarantor countries on a de-escalation of violence in key areas of Syria, and the delivery of much needed humanitarian aid to 30,000 people in Rural Damascus by an UN inter-agency convoy - No. 196 – 3 May 2017
covers the UN Special Envoy for Syria voices concern over stepped up clashes in Syria, the Visit to Lebanon and Syria by the new Head of the World Food Programme, the Emergency Relief Coordinator’s briefing to the Security Council, and the appointment of the new Head of the the independent panel to lead the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) on the use of chemicals as weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic - No. 195 – 27 April 2017
covers the Joint Statement by the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator and the Humanitarian Coordinator on recent air strikes affecting hospitals in Syria, the UN expressing concern for safety of people in Raqqa, the evacuation of people to Idlib and delivery of humanitarian assistance to rural Homs, and the Statement by UN Special Envoy for Syria saying that all sides in Syria crisis felt the impact of the ‘horrific’ 15 April attack on evacuee convoy - No. 194 – 19 April 2017
covers the renewed appeal by senior UN officials to the parties in the conflict for the safety and protection of civilians in Syria following a deadly attack on a convoy of evacuees near Idlib, the call by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ for accountability and to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court, and OPCW saying that the allegation of chemical weapon attack near Idlib is credible - No. 193 – 12 April 2017
covers the Secretary-General’s call for restraint following US airstrikes on a military base in Syria, the UN’s call for humanitarian accesss to 400,000 besieged people in eastern Ghouta, and Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s briefing to the Security Council on the latest round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva - No. 192 – 5 April 2017
covers the Secretary-General’s appeal for increased support for the victims of the Syria conflict at a EU-UN donor conference in Brussels, the condemnation by several UN officials of the alleged use of chemicals weapons near Idlib and the launch by the OPCW of an investigation, and the conclusion of the fifth round of UN-facilitated intra-Syrian talks in Geneva - No. 191 – 29 March 2017
covers the UN concerns over reports of evacuation of civilians from four besieged towns, the Secretary-General’s appeal to the parties to the conflict to end the violence in Syria as well as his visit of to Syrian refugees in Zaatari camp in Jordan, WHO’s alarm at the deteriorating health situation in Eastern Ghouta and call for medical access, and the start of the fifth round of UN-facilitated intra-Syrian talks in Geneva - No. 190 – 22 March 2017
covers the announcement of the Secretary-General’s upcoming visit to Jordan, new round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, scheduled to start on 23 March, facilitated by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura scheduled, and the UN’s appeal to parties to the conflict to protect civilians amid aerial attacks in several areas across Syria - No. 189 – 15 March 2017
covers the Secretary-General’s urgent appeal to the belligerents for unimpeded humanitarian aid in Syria and to work together to put an end to the conflict as it enters its seventh year, the statements issued by several Heads of UN agencies to mark the sixth year since the start of the war, the warning by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry that civilians continue to bear the brunt of the brutal conflict, a report by UNICEF that 2016 had been the worst year for children since the conflict started, the launch of a polio vaccination campaign across Syria, the Secretary-General’s condemnation of the terrorist attacks in Damascus, and ECHO’s contribution of Eur 5 million to UNRWA for Palestine refugees in Syria - No. 188 – 8 March 2017
covers the statement by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura at the conclusion of the 4th round of intra-Syrian talks that it was clear to everyone that the Geneva talks are aimed at implementing UN Security Council resolution 2254, a call by the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis for greater efforts to address the needs of more than 7 million women and girls and the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict urging protection of children as key to peace-making and conflict prevention - No. 187 – 1 March 2017
covers the International Independent Commission of Inquiry’s report denouncing the tactics used by the parties to the conflict as war crimes during the aerial campaign on Aleppo, the failure of the Security Council to pass a resolution on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and the resumption of the intra-Syrian negotiations in Geneva mediated by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura - No. 186 – 22 February 2017
covers Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s press conference ahead of the start of the intra-Syrian negotiations in Geneva, UN senior officials in Syria’s concerns about the fate of 5,000 people in Al Bab and their renewed call for immediate aid access, and Secretary-General’s emphasis on the need for a political, inclusive solution in Syria and Iraq in his remarks at the Munich Sceuirty Conference - No. 185 – 15 February 2017
covers the Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s concern at the lack of humanitarian access in Syria, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman’s briefing to the Security Council on the threat posed by Da’esh, the UN’s response to the ongoing water crisis in Aleppo, and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien’s visit to Syrian refugees in Jordan - No. 184 – 8 February 2017
covers the Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s concern at the lack of humanitarian access in Syria, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman’s briefing to the Security Council on the threat posed by Da’esh, the UN’s response to the ongoing water crisis in Aleppo, and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien’s visit to Syrian refugees in Jordan - No. 183 – 1 February 2017
covers the Secretary-General’s statement at a press encounter, where he said that he strongly hoped that the US will be able to re-establish its very solid refugee protection in resettlement, and I hope that the Syrians will not be excluded in that process, the Secretary-General’s statement on 31 January that managing national borders ‘cannot be based on any form of discrimination’, the statement by UN human rights experts on the US travel ban noting that the new policy breaches the US human rights obligations, the statement by UNHCR and IOM in response to the travel ban voicing hope that the US will continue its leadership role in protecting those fleeing conflict, Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s announcement of the postponement of the next round of Syria talks until 20 February, High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi’s visit to displaced persons in the Syrian city of Homs, and WFP’s announcement of resumption of air-drop of humanitarian assistance in Deir ez-Zor - No. 182 – 25 January 2017
covers the political talks in Astana, Kazakhastan, the UN’s appeal at an aid conference in Finland for nearly $5 billion to help Syrians and host communities, UNICEF’s call for unimpeded aid access to children in besieged Deir ez-Zor and the Security Council’s call to stamp out terrorism amid the destruction of cultural heritage in Syria - No. 181 – 19 January 2017
covers the announcement that the Special Envoy for Syria will attend the political talks in Kazakhastan, that despite a cessation of hostilities in war-ravaged Syria, aid workers are still unable to reach many people desperately needing assistance, more than 5 million people still remain cut off from running water in Damascus, heavy fighting had forced UN food relief agency to suspend airdrops in Deir ez-Zor, an appeal by top UN aid officials to not let 2017 repeat the tragedies of 2016 for Syria and so on - No. 180 – 11 January 2017
covers the UN’s appeal to the parties to the conflict to allow access to the Wadi Barada area to restore water supply to Damascus, a new WHO survey on the worrying number of Syrians infected with hepatitis C, and Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s press briefing in which he welcomed the political talks to be convened in Kazakhstan - No. 179 – 4 January 2017
covers the provision of urgent assistance by UN agencies and partners to civilians displaced in Aleppo following the end of the fighting, the adoption by the Security Council of a resolution on a ceasefire across Syria, the UN’s concerns about the lack of water supply affecting four million inhabitants in Damascus, and the UN’s call for donor support for displaced civilians in Aleppo
- No. 178 – 28 December 2016
covers the briefing to the UN Security Council by a senior OCHA official about the conclusion of the evacuation of the eastern districts of Aleppo, but describing the situation in Syria as catastrophic, the United Nations General Assembly voting to establish an independent panel to assist in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria and cash assistance to Palestine refugees from Syria in Jordan by UNRWA providing a semblance of stability - No. 177 – 21 December 2016
covers the UN Security Council adopting a resolution asking the UN to monitor evacuations from eastern Aleppo, resumption of evacuations from eastern Aleppo on 21 December after stalling for more than a day, UN preparing to redeploy staff to monitor the process, UN Humanitarian chief and Special Envoy for Syria welcoming the adoption of the resolution and the latter announcing his intention to convene intra-Syrian negotiations in February 2017, the Secretary-General saying that “Aleppo now synonym for hell”, UNICEF saying that as bitter winter grips the Middle East, it faces funding gap for support to millions of children, WFP responding to urgent needs of thousands in eastern Aleppo and so on - No. 176 – 14 December 2016
covers the UN’s strong concerns about continued fighting in Aleppo and appeals for safe evacuation of civilians, the High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein’s appeal for an immediate end to bombardment in eastern Aleppo, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria’s reminder to the Syrian Government and its allies of their responsibility of preventing human rights violations, calls by UN humanitarian officials call for truce and aid access to eastern Aleppo, and the General Assembly’s demand for end to fighting in Syria - No. 175 – 7 December 2016
covers the Security Council’s failure to adopt a resolution on a cessation of violence in Aleppo; the UN’s concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in several besieged areas across Syria; and WHO’s efforts to respond to the growing medical needs in Aleppo - No. 174 – 29 November 2016
covers the emergency session of the Security Council on the situation in Aleppo; Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’Brien’s renewed call for an end of all sieges in Syria; the OHCHR’s concerns that civilians in opposition-held areas are being prevented from fleeing the fighting in Aleppo - No. 173 – 23 November 2016
covers the resumption of aid operations along the Syrian-Jordan border; Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’Brien’s latest briefing to the Council; Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s consultations in Damascus with the Syrian Foreign Minister - No. 172 – 10 November 2016
covers concerns voiced by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights about the rising number of civilians casualties in Aleppo as fighting intensifies; the condemnation by senior UN officials in Syria of the attack against UN offices in Western Aleppo; the Secretary-General’s call for an investigation into a deadly attack on a school in the western part of Aleppo - No. 171 – 2 November 2016
covers concerns voiced by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights about the rising number of civilians casualties in Aleppo as fighting intensifies; the condemnation by senior UN officials in Syria of the attack against UN offices in Western Aleppo; the Secretary-General’s call for an investigation into a deadly attack on a school in the western part of Aleppo - No. 170 – 26 October 2016
covers the High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi’s warning that the displacement inside Syria is likely to rise, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’Brien’s statement deploring the lack of medical evacuation during the three-day lull in eastern Aleppo and Secretary-General and Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s briefing of a special session of the General Assembly on Syria - No. 169 – 19 October 2016
- No. 168 – 12 October 2016
covers the condemnation by UNICEF of the latest attack on a primary school in Daara, the Secretary-General’s appeal to the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court as well as Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s call to Russia and to the Syrian Government to cease hostilities in Aleppo - No. 167 – 5 October 2016
covers Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s statement regretting the suspension of diplomatic cooperation between the US and Russia on a cessation of hostilities, the Secretary-General’s condemnation of deliberate attacks on civilians and medical facilities as well as the calls by UN senior officials for an end of the bombing and medical evacuation of the wounded in eastern Aleppo - No. 166 – 28 September 2016
covers the Secretary-Genera’s appeal to the Security Council for protection of medical workers and facilities amid more airstrikes in Aleppo, WHO’s call for safe corridors to evacuate the wounded in eastern Aleppo, as well as Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s briefing to an emergency session of the Security Council as part of diplomatic efforts to reinstate cessation of hostilities - No. 165 – 21 September 2016
covers the Secretary-General’s and Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s addresses to a high-level meeting of the Security Council on Syria, the strong condemnation by UN officials of the attack on an humanitarian convoy near Aleppo city and the suspension of aid deliveries following this attack - No. 164 – 14 September 2016
covers the Secretary-General’s press briefing, in which he discussed Syria and Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s press briefings following the reinstatement of cessation of hostilities in Syria and call for for humanitarian access, High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein’s criticism of the Syrian Government for rights abuses as well as UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie’s visit to Syrian refugees in Jordan - No. 163 – 7 September 2016
covers the call by the International Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria on all parties to return to the negotiating table, the Secretary-General’s meeting with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the margins of the G20 summit in China, as well as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’Brien’s visit to refugees stranded at the Jordanian-Syrian border, among others - No. 162 – 31 August 2016
covers the OCHA spokesperson highlighting the challenges of delivery of humanitarian operation in Syria, responding the The Guardian article, the Emergency Relief Coordinator expressing serious concern at the evacuation of the entire population of Daraya, the report of Joint Investigative Mechanism on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, the UN Special Envoy’s call on all sides to quickly agree on a truce in Aleppo, the UNICEF Executive Director also calling for an immediate pause in the fighting in Aleppo, UNRWA preparing Palestine refugee children for the fall session of the school through a summer learning programme and so on - No. 161 – 24 August 2016
covers the delivery of humanitarian aid by a UN inter-agency convoy to more than 35,000 people near Homs, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs’ renewed appeal for a pause in fighting to allow aid access in Aleppo as well as UNICEF ‘s call for action to help the 100,000 children trapped in Aleppo - No. 160 – 17 August 2016
covers the statement issued by the Independent Investigative Commission on Syria expressing grave concern about the safety of civilians in Aleppo as well as the UN’s renewed appeals for a humanitarian pause to deliver aid to people trapped in the city - No. 159 – 10 August 2016
covers Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien’s appeal, along with other senior UN officials, for a humanitarian pause and safe access to Aleppo, UNICEF’s concerns about the two million people trapped in the city without water and electricity, and UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbulh’s visit to Palestine refugees in Syria - No. 158 – 3 August 2016
covers the statement by the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria warning of continued violence against the Yazidis, the United Nations’ call for an end of destruction of medical facilities, Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s visit to Tehran and UNICEF’s warning of thousands of children being at grave risk - No. 157 – 27 July 2016
covers tthe condemnation by the UN of the use of explosive devices in populated areas, the announcement by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura that he aims to resume the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva in late August as well as Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien’s call for aid access to Aleppo and other besieged towns - No. 156 – 20 July 2016
covers the condemnation by WHO of attacks on hospitals in Syria, OCHA’s alarm at the increased violence in Aleppo city, the delivery of humanitarian assistance by a UN inter-agency convoy to people besieged in Rural Damascus as well as UNRWA’s renewed appeal for funding for Palestine refugees in Syria - No. 155 – 14 July 2016
covers the joint statement by senior UN humanitarian officials expressing alarm at the increased violence in Aleppo city, Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s call on all parties to commit to a serious process of political transition as well as the first of 25 WFP airlifts of aid to the besieged north eastern city of Qamishli - No. 154 – 7 July 2016
covers Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s statement welcoming efforts to consolidate the cessation of hostilities, the appeal by Resident Coordinator Yacoub El-Hillo for immediate and unconditional humanitarian access to four besieged towns as well as the condemnation by UNICEF and UNRWA of the bombing of a facility for children south of Damascus - No. 153 – 29 June 2016
covers the briefing to the Security Council by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura on the status of the intra-Syrian talks, the delivery by inter-agency convoys of humanitarian aid in Aleppo and Rural Damascus as well as the UNICEF statement on the killing of children by air strikes in Deir-ez-Zor - No. 152 – 22 June 2016
covers the briefing by UN officials to the General Assembly on Syria, the Secretary-General’s condemnation of the terrorist attack against a Jordanian border guard post near a camp of Syrian asylum seekers, as well as the delivery of much needed aid to the besieged area of Kafr Batna, near Damascus, by a UN inter-agency convoy - No. 151 – 15 June 2016
covers the condemnation by the Secretary-General of the deadly airstrike on a market in the city of Idlib, the UN aid convoys reaching Douma and the besieged town of Daraya as well as Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s statement regarding the next round of intra-Syrian talks - No. 150 – 8 June 2016
covers the call by the UN on 8 June asking for humanitarian access in Syria in the wake of reports of attacks on two medical facilities in eastern Aleppo, announcement by Special Advisor Jan Egeland of plans to go to 11 besieged areas in the coming days, the briefing to the Security Council by Stephen O’Brien that ‘Operating space for humanitarian actors is shrinking’ in Syria, Syrian and international experts agreeing on emergency measures to safeguard Syria’s heritage, UNICEF Ambassador Ricky Martin calling for greater efforts for children fleeing the Syria conflict, condemnation by UNRWA of the escalation of violence in Syria, which it said was claiming Palestine refugee lives and destroying civilian homes, and other items - No. 149 – 1 June 2016
covers the inter-agency convoys delivering critical assistance to besieged towns in Rural Damascus, serious consideration being given to air dropping humanitarian aid to besieged areas, UN Special Envoy telling Security Council that peace talks will resume ‘as soon as feasible’, U.N.’s concern over fate of 8,000 Syrians trapped by fighting in northern Aleppo, Mediterranean Sea death toll soaring in first 5 months of 2016, according to UNHCR, UNRWA deploring increased violence in Khan Eshieh camp, a new joint UNESCO and UNHCR report saying that refugee children are five times more likely to be out of school than others and so on - No. 148 – 25 May 2016
covers the condemnation by the Secretary-General, the Security Council and the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria of the recent terrorist attacks in the cities of Jableh and Tartous, the Secretary-General’s meeting with Turkish President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the margins of the World Humanitarian Summit as well as the interview with the Special Advisor of the Special Envoy for Syria, Jan Egeland - No. 147 – 19 May 2016
covers the meeting of the International Syria Support Group in Vienna and subsequent press conferences by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, the condemnation by the Security Council of recent attacks against civilians, as well as the Secretary-General’s meeting with Syrian students in Portugal - No. 146 – 11 May 2016
covers the condemnation by the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria of recent attacks against civilians and medical facilities in Aleppo and Idlib and the outrage expressed by the Secretary-General and several senior UN officials following these airstrikes, the continued efforts by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura to revive the cessation of hostilities, the delivery of critically needed humanitarian to two besieged areas and efforts by UNRWA to continue to provide support to Palestine refugees in Yarmouk - No. 145 – 4 May 2016
covers the joint briefing to the Security Council by Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien on the dire situation in Aleppo, ongoing consultations by Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura to revive the cessation of hostilities across Syria especially in Aleppo, as well as the renewed call by Special Humanitarian Adviser Jan Egeland for increased aid access, among other items - No. 144 – 27 April 2016
covers the briefing by the Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to the Security Council on the Intra-Syrian talks, UN humanitarian air drops over the besieged city of Deir ez-Zor as well as UNESCO’s assessment mission to the World Heritage site of Palmyra - No. 143 – 20 April 2016
covers UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Yacoub El-Hillo’s warning that aid access remains limited across Syria, the UN’s appeal to the Syrian Government to allow medical supplies on aid convoys as well as the Intra-Syrian Talks in Geneva - No. 142 – 13 April 2016
covers the announcement of the next round of the Intra-Syrian Talks, the air drop of humanitarian aid to the besieged Deir ez-Zour, the regional tour of Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura before the new round, the report of the chemical weapons investigation team to the Security Council and the announcement to dispatch an UNESCO assessment team to Palmyra - No. 141 – 6 April 2016
covers Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s visit to Moscow ahead of the resumption of the intra-Syrian talks, the call by UN humanitarian officials in Syria for an end to the use of explosives in civilian areas as well as the launch by WFP of school meals programmes for children refugees in Lebanon, among others - No. 140 – 30 March 2016
covers the Secretary-General’s call for greater global solidarity with Syrian refugees at a UNHCR conference in Geneva, Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien’s briefing on humanitarian access to the Security Council as well as the US$ 100 million financing by the World Bank for job creation for Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon - No. 139 – 23 March 2016
covers the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, the delivery of humanitarian assistance to hard-to-reach areas in Homs and western Aleppo, as well as the allocation of $19 million for projects announced by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Yacoub El Hillo - No. 138 – 16 March 2016
covers the resumption in Geneva of the intra-Syrian talks mediated by Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, the delivery of humanitarian assistance by a UN convoy in several areas of Rural Damascus as well as the statements on the fifth anniversary of the conflict by the Secretary-General and Heads of UN agencies and more - No. 137 – 9 March 2016
covers the resumption of proximity talks in Geneva, UNHCR’s concerns over a EU-Turkey refugee proposal as well as cross-border aid convoys reaching Aleppo amid an increasing displacement of people - No. 136 – 2 March 2016
covers the Secretary-General’s call to all parties for continued commitment to the cessation of hostilities, the announcement by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura of the resumption of intra-Syrian talks on 9 March, the renewed UN appeal for unhindered and sustainable humanitarian access to people in all besieged areas, WFP’s announcement to resume food assistance for refugees owing to unprecedented donor support, UNRWA reaching aid to Palestine refugees for the third week running in areas south of Damascus as well as UNICEF’s plan to launch children’s immunisation programme in collaboration with WHO and other partners - No. 135 – 24 February 2016
covers the first UN humanitarian airdrops over the besieged city of Deir Ezzor, the Secretary-General welcoming the agreement by the International Syria Support Group on a nationwide cessation of hostilities to come into effect on 27 February, as well as the strong condemnation by the Secretary-General and the Security Council of the deadly bombing attacks in Damascus and Homs - No. 134 – 17 February 2016
covers the delivery of humanitarian aid to several besieged areas in a joint UN-Syrian Arab Red Crescent operation, Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s meeting in Damascus with Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem on the need for unhindered humanitarian access to all besieged areas,the condemnation by UN agencies of the airstrikes against seven medical facilities which killed dozens of people and other stories - No. 133 – 10 February 2016
covers Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’ Brien’s call for for a halt to military actions in northern Syria, UNHCR’s appeal to Turkey to grant broader access to Syrian refugees, the start of food deliveries by WFP for civilians fleeing the intensifying violence in Aleppo and the latest report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria - No. 132 – 3 February 2016
covers the announcement by Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura of a temporary suspension of the intra-Syrian talks, the appeal by UN aid agencies for US$1.4 billion for Syrian children’s education ahead of the London donors conference, as well as the delivery of critical aid by UNHCR to residents of a Syrian town cut off by fighting for the last three years - No. 131 – 27 January 2016
covers the Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, announcing the start of Intra-Syrian Talks on 29 January, the Secretary-General speaking out against the use of starvation as a weapon of war as well as the heads of the UN’s humanitarian agencies and leaders of more than 120 humanitarian non-governmental organizations, issuing a joint appeal asking governments and citizens around the world to add their voices in urging an end to the carnage in Syria and the launch of a US$5550 million humanitarian appeal to respond to the refugee crisis in Europe - No. 130 – 20 January 2016
covers the intensifying preparations for Intra Syrian talks, the continued aid deliveries to besieged Syrian towns by UN and partners as well as the Secretary-General’s warning that use of starvation as a weapon of war is a war crime - No. 129 – 13 January 2016
covers UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s latest meeting with the five permanent members of the Security Council in Geneva, the delivery of humanitarian aid to three besieged towns in western Syria as well as the launch by UN agencies of a US$ 7 billion humanitarian appeal - No. 128 – 6 January 2016
covers UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s visit to Saudi Arabia as part of his ongoing consultations on the political process to start soon in Geneva, the completion of the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons programme by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, as well as the number of refugees in Europe, half of whom are from Syria, passing the one million mark
- No. 127 – 30 December 2015
covers the aid that the UN in Syria and its partners provided for the evacuation of 460 people from four towns in Syria after local cease fire agreements, the announcement of 25 January as the target date by the UN Special Envoy for the start of intra-Syrian peace talks and the condemnation of destruction of Syrian archealogical sites in Bosra by UNESCO - No. 126 – 23 December 2015
covers the Security Council resolution on 18 December that focuses on ending the civil war in Syria, giving the United Nations an enhanced role in shepherding the opposing sides to talks for a political transition, with a timetable for a ceasefire, a new constitution and elections, all under UN auspices, SRSG on Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict calling for an immediate end to use of sexual violence by all sides as a weapon of war and UN Security Council demanding immediate humanitarian access across battle lines - No. 125 – 16 December 2015
covers the Secretary-General’s call for a nationwide cease-fire in Syria and the start of negotiations in January, the second visit to Syria by Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien as well as the evacuation by the UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent of over 300 combatants and their families from the Al Waer neighborhood in Homs - No. 124 – 9 December 2015
covers the Secretary-General welcoming the United States’ initiative to hold a meeting of the International Syria Support Group in New York next week, UNHCR’s appeal to Jordan to allow 12,000 stranded refugees into the country, and UNICEF’s plan to provide winter support to 2.6 million children in Syria and the region - No. 123 – 2 December 2015
covers the Special Envoy’s ongoing consultations on the Vienna process, UNICEF’s appeal for an end to all attacks on civilian infrastructure and the launch by UNRWA of a winter fundraising campaign - No. 122 – 25 November 2015
covers Special Envoy’s consultations as part of efforts to broker a nationwide cease-fire in Syria and to re-launch the political process, the Secretary-General’s call for measures to lower tensions after the downing of a Russian military plane as well as the appeal by two UN officials for the release of women arbitrarily detained in Syria - No. 121 – 18 November 2015
covers the Secretary-General’s call after the G20 Summit for a robust response to terrorism, but framed within the rule of law, the agreement reached at talks in Vienna on a new timeline for negotiations on Syria under UN auspices, as well as Stephen O’Brien’s latest briefing to the Security Council on humanitarian access in Syria - No. 120 – 11 November 2015
covers the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s briefing to the Security ahead of a new round of high-level talks in Vienna as well as his meeting with a delegation of the Syrian Opposition Coalition in Geneva. This issue also includes the Secretary General’s address to the Fourth Arab and Latin American Summit in Riyadh in which he welcomed the re-engagement of the international community in pushing for a political solution in Syria - No. 119 – 4 November 2015
covers the Secretary-General welcoming the outcome of the Vienna talks on Syria and expressing hopes that in the coming days and weeks they will be able to narrow down the differences and build on areas of agreement; the visit of Special Envoy for Syria to Damascus and Russia to discuss the outcome and the follow-up to the talks; the call by the Secretary-General and the Red Cross chief voicing concern over ‘brazen and brutal erosion’ of respect for humanitarian law; and an infographic and photo essay on Syria - No. 118 – 28 October 2015
covers Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’Brien’s briefing to the Security Council on humanitarian access in Syria, in which he said 13.5 million people are in need of some form of protection and humanitarian assistance in Syria, up by 1.2 million in the last 10 months, UNHCR’s call to European countries to grant protection and assistance to refugees, as well as the resumption by WFP of its food vouchers programme for Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon - No. 117 – 21 October 2015
covers the delivery of humanitarian and medical assistance to about 30,000 people in four besieged towns in Syria, UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s continued efforts towards de-escalation of violence, as well as Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag’s visit to Syrian refugee families in northern Lebanon - No. 116 – 14 October 2015
covers UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s renewed appeal for a political process to resolve the conflict, the UN human rights advisors’ alarm at violent rhetoric by religious clerics concerning the situation in Syria, as well as UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres’ visit to Greece to assess the humanitarian response to the refugee crisis - No. 115 – 7 October 2015
covers the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ appeal to the European Union to ensure that migration policies uphold the human rights of migrants, UNESCO’s condemnation of the destruction of a World Heritage site in Palmyra, as well as a new partnership agreement between UNHCR and Brazil to help Syrian refugeeso - No. 114 – 30 September 2015
covers the Secretary-General’s appeal to the Security Council for urgent measures to protect civilians in Syria as well as his call at the opening of the 70th General Assembly General Debate for the referral of Syria to the International Criminal Court. It also covers Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s address to a high-level meeting on Syria in which he outlined three priority areas for humanitarian efforts - No. 113 – 24 September 2015
covers UNHCR’s response to the European Union’s decision to increase funding for humanitarian operations to countries neighbouring Syria, Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s meeting with the heads of the four intra-Syrian thematic working groups, as well as the first visit of UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien to Jordan - No. 112 – 16 September 2015
covers UN emergency relief coordinator Steven O’Brien’s briefing to the Security Council on humanitarian access in Syria, UNHCR’s call to European countries for a coherent response to the refugee crisis as well as the approval by the Security Council of a new OPCW-UN Investigative Mechanism on the use of chemical weapons in Syria - No. 111 – 9 September 2015
covers the Secretary-General’s renewed appeal to Security Council to take action to find a political solution to the conflict, Special Envoy de Mistura’s call for Europe to receive refugees with dignity and the UNHCR’s warning that more people are being driven out of Syria by the escalating fighting - No. 110 – 2 September 2015
covers the call to donors by UN relief chief Stephen O’Brien for sustained support for the ever-changing needs in Syria, UNESCO’s condemnation of the destruction of the Temples of Bel and Baal Shamin by ISIL, the Secretary-General’s condemnation of the use of chemical weapons and toxic chemicals as weapons in the Syrian conflict, and Mr. O’Brien’s call on the Security Council to take action to end ‘immense suffering’ of Syrians - No. 109 – 26 August 2015
covers the Secretary-General’s appeal to European countries to do more to respond to the migrant crisis, his strong condemnation of the destruction of Syria’s cultural sites by Da’esh as well as UNICEF’s report that water is being used as a weapon of war in Syria - No. 108 – 19 August 2015
covers the backing by the Security Council of the latest plan set out by UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura to work towards political negotiations on Syria, the Special Envoy’s condemnation of the air raids on Douma on 16 August, the conclusion of the first visit to Syria by UN humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien, and the condemnation by the UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, of the killing of two Syrian scholars of antiquities - No. 107 – 12 August 2015
covers the unanimous vote by the Security Council of a resolution establishing the Investigative Mechanism into the use of chemical weapons in Syria, the Secretary-General’s appeal for accountability in the use of chemical weapons as well as the visit of the World Food Programme’s Executive Director to Syrian refugees in Jordan amid a critical funding gap for the agency’s aid operations - No. 106 – 5 August 2015
covers the Secretary-General’s meeting with President Obama in Washington D.C. during which they discussed the situation in Syria (among other topics), Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s interview with UN News Centre as well as the Secretary-General’s appeal for urgent funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees - No. 105 – 25 July 2015
covers the Secretary-General and Special Envoy de Mistura’s briefing to the Security Council on a proposal to launch a political process to enable Syrians to negotiate a framework agreement on how to implement all aspects of the Geneva Communiqué and the Secretary- General’s renewed call at a press encounter to push for a political solution to the conflict. This update also includes the UN Relief Chief’s first briefing to the Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria since taking up his post - No. 104 – 22 July 2015
covers Special Envoy de Mistura’s deep concerns over the situation of civilians in the border town of Zabadani as well as his latest visits to Iran, China and Egypt as part of the ongoing consultations on Syria. The issue also includes UNICEF’s warning about the risks of water-borne disease among Syrian children - No. 103 – 15 July 2015
covers Special Envoy de Mistura’s visits to Jordan, Qatar and the UAE as part of the Geneva consultations, the number of refugees fleeing Syria having now passed the four million mark and UNICEF’s concerns about the risk of disease for children amid shortage of drinking water - No. 102 – 8 July 2015
covers Special Envoy de Mistura’s latest consultations in Geneva, the arrival of a UN aid convoy in Al Raqqa for the first time in eight months and UNICEF’s call for urgent action to protect children from exploitation as child labour - No. 101 – 1 July 2015
covers the Secretary-General’s appeal to the international community to waste no more time to end violence in Syria, Special Envoy de Mistura’s ongoing consultations in Geneva, as well as the latest briefing to the Security Council on challenges for aid deliveries to people in need across Syria - No. 100 – 24 June 2015
covers the latest report by the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria on the human rights situation in the country, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon’s call for more funding for Palestine refugees in Lebanon, as well as the Secretary-General’s appeal for increased solidarity with refugees on World Refugee Day - No. 99 – 17 July 2015
covers the latest visit of Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura to Damascus and his condemnation of attacks on civilians, the rising number of refugees crossing into Turkey to escape the fighting as well as the UN Human Rights Chief’s appeal to Member States to reverse the nightmare for the Syrian population - No. 98 – 10 July 2015
covers the Geneva consultations by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, his condemnation of the barrel bomb attacks in Idlib, the visit by the new chief humanitarian official Stephen O’Brien to Iraq, the outrage of the Security Council over intensifying attacks against civilians, UNRWA’s support to refugees from Yarmouk and Mediterranean crossings in 2015 already topping 100,000 - No. 97 – 3 June 2015
covers the Geneva consultations by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, his condemnation of the barrel bomb attacks in Aleppo which killed 70 civilians, the appeal by outgoing top humanitarian official Valerie Amos urging Security Council to set aside its differences for the sake of finding a solution for Syria and Yarmouk students going back after completing their ninth grade exams - No. 96 – 27 May 2015
covers the the ongoing consultations by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura in Geneva, the appeal by WFP for a humanitarian pause to allow farmers to harvest and transport their crops, the appeal by the HC/RC to Member states to find a political solution for Syria, UNRWA’s continued assistance to those trapped in the Yarmouk Palestine refugee camp, the Secretary-General’s visit to refugees resettled in Ireland, and many other stories - No. 95 – 20 May 2015
covers the Secretary-General’s appeal to the international community to support the UN to forge an inclusive, Syrian-led political transition, the ongoing consultations by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura in Geneva, as well as Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nikolay Mladenov’s call for increased donor support for Lebanon. - No. 94 – 13 May 2015
covers the ongoing consultations by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura in Geneva, the report by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict of widespread sexual violence committed against women in Syria and Iraq, as well as UNRWA’s appeal for donor support for its emergency operations in Yarmouk. - No. 93 – 6 May 2015
covers the launch of the Geneva consultations on Syria, the briefing to the Security Council on the deteriorating situation in Yarmouk as well as the Secretary-General’s latest report on the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme - No. 92 – 29 April 2015
covers the Secretary-General’s strong condemnation of the aerial attack on the Yarmouk refugee camp on 28 April, the briefing to the Security Council by top humanitarian officials as well as the Council demand from all parties for increased aid access across Syria - No. 91 – 22 April 2015
covers the briefing to the Security Council by UN officials on efforts to increase aid deliveries to civilians trapped in Yarmouk, the demand by the Security Council for unimpeded humanitarian access inside the camp, as well as UNRWA’s funding appeal to support emergency relief efforts in Yarmouk - No. 90 – 15 April 2015
covers visit of the UNRWA Commissioner-General to Yarmouk and his meeting with Syrian authorities to seek increased aid access to the refugee camp, the announcement of a new round of peace talks led by Special Envoy de Mistura next month, as well as a UNICEF convoy taking much need humanitarian assistance to civilians in north eastern Syria. - No. 89 – 8 April 2015
covers the Head of UNRWA’s concerns about the desperate situation in the Yarmouk refugee camp following an escalation of fighting, the Security Council’s demand for humanitarian access to besieged civilians in the camp as well as the resumption of inter-Syrian talks in Moscow. - No. 88 – 1 April 2015
covers the Third International Pledging Conference for Syria, which raised US$ 3.8 billion in humanitarian aid, the Secretary-General’s address to the Council of the Arab League on the situation in Syria and UNRWA’s concerns about an upsurge in fighting in the Yarmouk refugee camp - No. 87 – 25 March 2015
covers Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura’s continued efforts to build support for a freeze of fighting in Aleppo, the Secretary-General’s condemnation of suicide attacks against Kurdish communities in the northern city of Al-Hasaka and the Security Council’s concerns about the negative impact of the Syrian conflict on Lebanon’s stability - No. 86 – 18 March 2015
covers the Secretary-General ‘s statement lamenting the failure of UN collective action in Syria as the conflict enters its fifth year, the heads of UN humanitarian agencies’ appeal to the international community to overcome its differences and bring a solution to the crisis, as well as the launch of a UN global social media campaign, “WhatDoesItTake”, to express solidarity with the Syrian people - No. 85 – 11 March 2015
covers the two-day visit by UNRWA Commissioner-General to Syria, a new report supported by the UN revealing the devastating impact of four years of conflict on Syria’s human and economic development as well as the donation of 30 mobile clinics by WHO to Syria - No. 84 – 4 March 2015
covers Special Envoy de Mistura’s continued efforts to broker a freeze of fighting in the city of Aleppo, the UN Humanitarian Chief’s visit to Lebanon and Jordan to discuss the impact of the Syrian crisis as well as the Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator’s latest briefing to the Security Council on humanitarian access in Syria - No. 83 – 25 February 2015
covers Secretary-General’s statement appealing to all parties to de-escalate the conflict in order to give reprieve to Syrian civilians, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry ‘s briefing to the Security Council on its ninth report into human rights violations in Syria since March 2011,a press release by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights highlighting the plight of thousands of detainees in Syria, WHO’s launching of a billion dollar appeal to tackle soaring needs in four crisis-torn countries including Syria and its delivery of life-saving medicine and medical supplies to eastern Aleppo, as well as UNESCO’s launching of its “Bridging Learning Gaps for Youth” programme to scale up its education response to the Syria crisis - No. 82 – 18 February 2015
covers Special Envoy de Mistura’s press encounter after briefing the Security Council on 17 February, UNICEF’s Syria Crisis 2014 annual situation report, Security Council adoption of resolution targeting sources of financing for ISIL, joint press release by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict demanding end to the use of child soldiers in conflict and UNRWA’s delivering food assistance to Neirab camp and its assessing damage in Husseiniyeh camp - No. 81 – 11 February 2015
covers Special Envoy de Mistura’s meeting in Damascus with President Assad to seek a reduction of violence and a freeze of fighting in Aleppo, the Secretary- General’s support for international re-engagement towards a political solution and WFP’s deliveries of food aid to more than 30,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan - No. 80 – 4 February 2015
covers the destruction of one of Syria’s 12 chemical weapon production facilities, the call by Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag for sustained action to assist the Syrian refugee population in Lebanon as well as UNRWA’s deep concerns about the deteriorating conditions for Palestine refugees trapped in Yarmouk - No. 79 – 28 January 2015
covers Deputy Humanitarian Chief Kyung wha-Kang’s briefing to the Security Council on Syria, the Secretary-General’s report on humanitarian access, as well as UNHCR Special Envoy Jolie’s visit to Syrian refugees and Iraqi IDPs in the Kurdistan region of Iraq - No. 78 – 21 January 2015
covers the arrival of a UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent aid convoy in Homs for the first time in three months, the UN’s appeal for additional funding for the winter humanitarian response, the one-year milestone with no new polio cases reported in Syria and UN Syria Envoy De Mistura saying that the conflict has set back the country by 40 years - No. 77 – 14 January 2015
covers UNRWA expressing concern at its inability to distribute any aid since early December 2014 in Yarmouk Palestine refugee camo, the increase in UNICEF’s aid delivery as a winter storm battered the region. the Secretary-General’s condemnation of the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris, in which Special Envoy de Mistura represented the Secretary-General and the Security Council’s outrage at the suicide attack in Lebanon - No. 76 – 7 January 2015
covers UNHCR ‘s report showing that for the first time Syrians have become the largest refugee population worldwide being helped by the agency, USG Valerie Amos’ visit to Lebanon to look at how the international community can help the country deal with the Syria crisis, as well as High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane’s briefing to the Security Council on the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons
- No. 75 – 31 December 2014
covers the Office of Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s announcement that the Office will be represented at the intra-Syrian talks to be held in Moscow and UNRWA’s concerns about continued disruptions of food deliveries in Yarmouk Palestine refugee camp. It also includes a link to the short video posted on YouTube looking back at UN efforts to respond to the multiple crises, including the situation in Syria, in 2014 - No. 74 – 24 December 2014
covers the multi-agency $8.4 billion appeal for 2015 for providing aid to people affected by the conflict in Syria and host communities in the countries in the region, the extensive damage to the cultural heritage of Syria and UNRWA’s continued difficulty in distributing aid to Palestine refugees in the Yarmouk Camp - No. 73 – 17 December 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s end-of-the-year press conference, where he highlighted ending the “nightmare” in Syria as one of the imperatives of 2015, the Security Council’s renewal for a year of the cross-border humanitarian assistance mandate, a briefing to the Council on protection of civilians by UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos, DSG Eliasson’s visit to Lebanon, where he promised to help “as much as possible” with Syrian refugee impact, UNESCO’s condemnation of the killing of three Syrian television journalists and the launch on 18 December of the humanitarian crisis response plans, among others - No. 72 – 10 December 2014
covers Special Envoy de Mistura’s consultations in Turkey to promote a fighting freeze in Aleppo, UNHCR’s appeal to Western nations to help resettle 100,000 Syrian refugees and the resumption of WFP’s food voucher programme following a successful fund-raising campaign on social media - No. 71 – 3 December 2014
covers the launch by the World Food Programme of a three-day social media campaign for Syrian refugees amid a critical funding gap as well as the UNESCO Director General’s call for the creation of “protected cultural zones” in Syria and Iraq - No. 70 – 26 November 2014
covers the UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos’ latest briefing to the Security Council on humanitarian access inside Syria, UNRWA’s warning about the increasingly grave situation that the Palestine refugees are facing across the region and the Deputy Secretary-General’s appeal for the protection of minorities and their rights - No. 69 – 19 November 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s warning of the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters and violent extremism, the Special Envoy’s work on developing the modalities of proposed “freeze sones” in Aleppo, as well as the UNRWA Commissioner’s concerns over the dire situation of Syrian and Palestine refugees in Syria - No. 68 – 12 November 2014
covers Special Envoy de Mistura’s visit to Damascus, where he discussed his proposal of freeze zones with Syrian authorities, and UNHCR’s concerns about funding shortfalls and their impact on displaced people as winter approaches. It also includes UNICEF’s condemnation of an attack on a school in Damascus - No. 67 – 5 November 2014
covers Special Envoy de Mistura’s interview with UN Radio on 3 November, the Security Council briefing on the destruction of chemical weapons and UNHCR’s open letter on the issue of statelessness - No. 66 – 29 October 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s call for increased assistance to Syrian refugees in Lebanon, UNHCR’s concerns over a proposal by Spain to legalise automatic returns of refugees from two enclaves in North Africa, as well as UNRWA’s appeal for humanitarian access to Yarmouk’s Palestinian refugee camp - No. 65 – 22 October 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s renewed appeal for a political solution to the conflict, UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos’ visit to Syrian refugees in Turkey and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Aleppo by a UNICEF convoy for the first time in months - No. 64 – 15 October 2014
covers the new displacement of people fleeing ISIL’s attacks in Kobane, the UN Special Envoy’s appeal to the international community to take urgent action to avoid a massacre in the besieged town, as well as WFP’s move to prioritise the distribution of food vouchers to the 500,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan - No. 63 – 8 October 2014
covers the appeals of the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy to the international community to protect civilians in the northeastern city of Kobane as well as OHCHR’s concerns about the growing number of people fleeing from ISIL advance - No. 62 – 1 October 2014
covers UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos’ call for urgent funding to continue UN food deliveries in Syria, the Secretary-General’s appeal to scale up efforts to prevent forced displacement and the closing of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission - No. 61 – 24 September 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s appeal to world leaders for decisive action to confront extremist armed groups, new Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s emphasis on the need for a political process to resolve the crisis as well as the increased flow of refugees from northern Syria into Turkey - No. 60 – 17 September 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s call for decisive action against the so-called ISIS armed group, the visit by two UN humanitarian chiefs to Syrian refugees in Lebanon, as well as the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Syria’s latest report to the Human Rights Council
- No. 59 – 10 September 2014
covers the first visit by Special Envoy de Mistura and his Deputy to Damascus, the new Human Rights Chief’s appeal to the international community to halt the conflicts in Iraq and Syria and the report by a OPCW fact-finding mission confirming the use of chlorine gas in Syria - No. 58 – 3 September 2014
covers the latest update on UN efforts to secure the release of the Fijian peacekeepers detained in Golan, the record-breaking number of people reached by UN relief operations inside Syria in August, as well as the Secretary-General’s appeal to an immediate end to the use of cluster munitions - No. 57 – 27 August 2014
covers the Independent Commission of Inquiry’s report, which said that both the Government and extremist groups such as ISIL are committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, an update by OPCW on destruction operations of Syria’s chemical weapons and the launch by UNICEF of its largest emergency supply operation in a single month - No. 56 – 20 August 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s statement on the maritime destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons, his strong condemnation of the killing of an American journalist, UN agencies’ stepped up relief operations to respond to the influx of Iraqi refugees in Syria as well as the recent visit by Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos to Iran - No. 55 – 13 August 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s concerns about the threat posed by the so-called “Islamic State” to Iraq, Syria and the region, WFP Executive Director’s visit to Damascus as well as an update on destruction operations of Syria’s chemical programme - No. 54 – 6 August 2014
covers an update on cross border and cross-line UN food delivery operations, the announcement by the Syrian National Coalition and the Free Syrian Army of their commitment to end the recruitment of child soldiers, UNRWA having to halt distribution in Yarmouk Palestine refugee camp because of fighting and other stories - No. 53 – 30 July 2014
covers the latest briefing by the UN Humanitarian Chief to the Security Council on humanitarian access to civilians within Syria, the Security Council’s concerns over the reported seizure of oil fields by terrorist groups and the distribution of medical supplies in the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk for the first time in six months - No. 52 – 23 July 2014
covers Security Council members once again expressing concern on the issue of humanitarian access to civilians across Syria, the airlifting of food by the World Food Programme to hard-to-reach areas, as well as UN agencies’ call for global action to protect Syrian children against polio - No. 51 – 16 July 2014
covers the adoption by the Security Council of a resolution authorising UN humanitarian agencies to use the most direct routes to deliver relief, the Secretary-General’s renewed appeal to all parties to the conflict to allow unconditional humanitarian access to people in need, as well as growing concerns at the worsening refugee crisis in Lebanon - No. 50 – 10 July 2014
covers the appointment of Staffan de Mistura as new Special Envoy for Syria, the Special Coordinator for Lebanon’s concerns that the aid programme for Syrian refugees in Lebanon is severely under-funded, and new figures releases by UNICEF that over 6 million Syrian children need immediate humanitarian assistance - No. 49 – 2 July 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s latest report on children and armed conflict, which highlights grave children’s rights abuses in Syria, UNICEF’s condemnation of the killing of four school girls near Homs and the continued challenge to deliver food aid to Palestinian refugees in Yarmouk - No. 48 – 25 June 2014
covers the six points suggested by the Secretary-General as the way forward in Syria, completion by the OPCW-UN Joint Mission of removal of Syria’s declared chemical weapons materials, the Secretary-General’s report on humanitarian access highlighting continued impediments the UN is facing in delivering aid in Syria - No. 47 – 18 June 2104
covers the Secretary-General’s ongoing consultations to appoint a new special envoy for Syria, the UN-OPCW Joint Mission’s latest update on the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons and the Independent Commission of Inquiry’s report on how the conflict continues to primarily affect civilians - No. 46 – 11 June 2014
covers Navi Pillay’s final address as High Commissioner to the Human Rights Council deploring the lack of accountability in Syria - No. 45 – 4 June 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s statement on the Syrian elections, the message of the Secretary-General thanking Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi for his tireless efforts as the Joint Special Representative, briefing by OCHA officials on the difficulty for humanitarian access, the head of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission warning that the 30 June deadline will not be met and the warning by UN experts that the vetoing of the resolution to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court opens the door for further atrocities in that country - No. 44 – 21 May 2014
covers further progress made by the OPCW-UN Joint Mission in the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons, the condemnation by the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the use of barrels bombs against civilians in Aleppo and UNRWA’s continued efforts to provide medical assistance despite massive challenges - No. 43 – 14 May 2014
covers the announcement of JSR Brahimi’s resignation, a report in on internal displacement revealing that over 9,500 Syrians a day are displaced by the war and the delivery of life-saving supplies by an inter-agency convoy in Aleppo - No. 42 – 7 May 2014
covers the appeal by UNHCR and five countries hosting refugees to the international community to step up their assistance to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis, UNRWA’s concerns about increasing restrictions on Palestinian refugees from entering Lebanon, as well as WHO’s delivery of life-saving medical supplies in central Syria - No. 41 – 30 April 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s strong condemnation of the latest car bomb attack in central Syria, which killed and wounded dozens of civilians, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator’s briefing to the Security Council on the worsening humanitarian situation, as well as the setting up by OPCW of an investigation mission to look into allegations of chlorine gas attacks. - No. 40 – 23 April 2014
covers the renewed appeal by the top officials of five UN agencies to the Syrian Government and the opposition to allow aid access, end sieges and halt the indiscriminate shelling of civilians, as well as the removal of nearly 90 per cent of Syria’s chemical arsenal. It also highlights the UN’s call for Syrian authorities to reconsider holding presidential elections in early June amid the current tragedy - No. 39 – 17 April 2014
covers the OHCHR’s report on widespread torture in detention facilities in Syria, the ongoing OPCW-UN Joint Mission’s removal of chemical materials and UNRWA’s repeated appeal for aid access in Yarmouk refugee camp - No. 38 – 9 April 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s call to all parties to protect civilians, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay’s briefing to the Security Council and the access of an inter-agency aid convoy to eastern Aleppo for the first time in nearly a year - No. 37 – 2 April 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s remarks on the need to mobilise political will by the international community and his efforts to restart the Geneva talks, further obstacles faced by UNRWA to deliver food aid to Yarmouk and the renewal of the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations - No. 36 – 26 March 2014
covers the renewed appeal by JSR Brahimi at the League of Arab States summit for a resumption of the Geneva peace talks, the first report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council on the implementation of resolution 2139 (2014) on humanitarian access as well as the OPCW Director General’s meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister on the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons - No. 35 – 19 March 2014
covers the trip by JSR Lakhdar Brahimi to Iran, a statement by a UN official about the condition of many Syrians inside the country, UNRWA’s statement on being able to once again access the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp and the impact of the Syrian civil war on the region - No. 34 – 12 March 2014
covers the Secretary-General’s statement marking the third year since the protests began in Syria and escalated into a civil war, his call along with two others to stop the destruction of Syria’s cultural heritage, the decision to open the third refugee camp in Jordan and UNRWA’s statement on not being able to reach the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp for the 11th day - No. 33 – 5 March 2014
covers the continued efforts by the Secretary-General and JSR Brahimi to bring the Syrian government and the opposition back to the negotiating table, the briefing by the OPCW-UN Joint Mission Special Coordinator to the Security Council and UNRWA’s appeal for aid access to the Yarmouk refugee camp - No. 32 – 27 February 2014
covers the conclusion of the Secretary-General’s briefing to the General Assembly on the humanitarian situation in Syria and his appeal to the international community for further financial support, the launch of the “No Lost Generation” campaign for Syrian children and the removal of a stockpile of mustard gas from Syria by the OPCW-UN Joint Mission - No. 31 – 19 February 2014
covers the conclusion of the second round of negotiations in Geneva and the continued diplomatic efforts by JSR Brahimi for the talks to continue, the challenges faced by UN agencies to deliver aid assistance to Palestinian refugees in the Yarmouk refugee camp near Damascus, as well as a paper released by OHCHR on the devastating impact on civilians of ongoing sieges across Syria - No. 30 – 12 February 2014
covers the resumption of peace talks between the Government and the opposition in Geneva, long-awaited aid distribution by UN agencies to civilians in the besieged city of Homs, and further removal of chemical weapons from Syria - No. 29 – 5 February 2014
covers diplomatic efforts to convene the second round of peace talks between the Government and the opposition in Geneva on 10 February, as well as UN agencies operations to deliver urgently needed food to civilians in besieged areas across Syria. The bulletin also highlights the first report of the Secretary-General on the situation of children and armed conflict in Syria - No. 28 – 29 January 2014
covers the Geneva conference and efforts by JSR Brahimi to address the implementation of the Geneva I communiqué, preparations by UN agencies to deliver humanitarian assistance to civilians trapped in the besieged city of Homs, and the further removal by the OPCW-UN Joint Mission of Syria’s chemical materials - No. 27 – 22 January 2014
covers the launch of the Montreux High-Level segment of the Geneva Conference by the Secretary-General, the appeal of UN experts for a human rights- based deal at the peace talks and the UN-led social media campaign calling for immediate humanitarian access to the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus - No. 26 – 15 January 2014
covers the Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria held in Kuwait, UN Humanitarian chief Valerie Amos’ call for unhindered passage to humanitarian aid and the Secretary-General’s trip to Iraq - No. 25 – 8 January 2014
covers the announcement by the Secretary-General that he has sent invitations to participants in the Geneva II conference, the further progress achieved by the Joint OPCW/UN Mission in transferring chemical materials out of Syria and the launch by UN agencies and other partners of the “No Lost Generation” campaign aimed at raising USD 1 billion for Syrian children
- No. 24 – 31 December 2013
covers the announcement by the OPCW-UN Joint Mission that the 31 December deadline set for the removal of the most critical chemical weapons material from Syria will not be met, the Secretary-General condemning the use of barrel bombs in Syria, UNHCR saying that the number of registered refugees has grown to 2.3 million, and UNRWA urging humanitarian assistance for Palestinian refugees trapped in Yarmouk camp, from where it has reports that five Palestinian refugees have died of malnutrition, among others - No. 23 – 24 December 2013
covers the press conference by the Secretary-General on 23 December, the briefing by JSR Brahimi’s Spokesperson on the preparations for Geneva II, developments relating to the elimination of the chemical weapons programme in Syria, minority issues, plight of Palestinian refugees in the Damascus suburb of Yarmouk and January 2014 pledging conference for Syria - No. 22 – 18 December 2013
covers the briefing by JSR Brahimi’s Spokesperson about the preparations for Geneva II, Secretary-General’s briefing to the Security Council on the report of Prof Åke Sellström’s on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, OPCW outlining the destruction plan of Syria’s chemical weapons outside the country and the global humanitarian appeal, including for Syria - No. 21 – 11 December 2013
covers the Secretary-General’s press conference last week in Paris, where he spoke about the Geneva II conference preparations, his statement expressing concern at the targeting of religious representatives, the talks that the OPCW Director-General had with Norwegian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and condemnation by UN officials of attacks on medical personnel and facilities - No. 20 – 4 December 2013
covers the letter of the Secretary-General to the UN Security Council transmitting the second monthly report on the Joint OPCW-UN Mission, information on a press briefing by Special Coordinator Sigrid Kaag and stories on the humanitarian situation and support by UN agencies for Syrian refugees and IDPs - No. 19 – 27 November 2013
covers the announcement of the Geneva II conference on 22 January 2014 by the Secretary-General, the meeting that JSR Brahimi had with senior US and Russian officials on the preparations for this meeting and other information - No. 18 – 20 November 2013
covers the Secretary-General’s briefing to the press on the Geneva II Conference, OPCW’s adoption of a destruction plan of Syria’s chemical weapons and UNHCR’s information on a further influx of Syrian refugees in Lebanon - No. 17 – 13 November 2013
covers the Secretary-General’s address on Syria to the General Assembly, UNICEF statement following a series of mortar attacks on schools - No. 16 – 6 November 2013
covers the meeting which Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi had with Russian and US officials in Geneva on holding the Geneva II conference on Syria, the briefing by the Special Coordinator Sigrid Kaag to the Security Council on the work of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission and the briefing to the Security Council by the USG for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos on the humanitarian situation in Syria - No. 15 – 30 October 2013
contains information about Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi’s visit to Syria, the first monthly report of the OPCW Director-General on the activities of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission submitted to the Security Council by the UN Secretary-General, the outcome of the visit of the UNICEF Executive Director to Syria and the confirmation of polio cases in the war-torn country - No. 14 – 23 October 2013
covers the travels of Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi to capitals in the Middle East to discuss the convening of the Geneva conference next month, the arrival of Special Coordinator Sigrid Kaag in Damascus as head of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission and the latest figures on inspections by the OPCW team in Syria. It also has news on the appeal by the head of OCHA Valerie Amos for a pause in fighting in order to send humanitarian aid to the people trapped in Moademiyeh, a suburb of Rural Damascus - No. 13 – 16 October 2013
covers the establishment of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission to eliminate the chemical weapons programme of the Syrian Arab Republic after approval by the Security Council, appointment of the Special Coordinator to head the Mission and the work of the OPCW-UN mission team on the ground, among others. - No. 12 – 9 October 2013
covers the start of the work to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons under the supervision of experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), supported by the United Nations, and other OPCW-related stories. It also contains a story on the letter sent by the UN Secretary-General to the Security Council in which the he proposed the establishment of a Joint OPCW/United Nations Mission comprising about 100 personnel, headed by a Special Coordinator. In addition, it has links to stories on UN agencies urging the Syrian government to allow aid deliveries across the frontlines, opening of a new refugee camp in Iraq and the return of Palestinian refugee children, affected by the war, to school in Lebanon with UN assistance - No. 11 – 2 October 2013
- No. 10 – 25 September 2013
- No. 9 – 18 September 2013
- No. 8 – 11 September 2013
- No. 7 – 4 September 2013
- No. 6 – 28 August 2013
- No. 5 – 21 August 2013
- No. 4 – 14 August 2013
- No. 3 – 7 August 2013
- No. 2 – 31 July 2013
- No. 1 – 24 July 2013
