Billions Required for Reconstruction Efforts in Syria
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Martin Griffiths, the UN Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, emphasized that the current priority in
Syria is life-saving support and coordination with the authorities in Damascus to deliver aid.
“With Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of Syria’s new administration, we agreed on the necessity to
open the crossings so that we can deliver aid from all directions where it’s needed,” Griffiths
stated.
He added, “We need to conduct a thorough assessment of needs to understand exactly what is
required to help the Syrian people. They have suffered through these tough times for years, and
we must provide them with security, justice, and opportunities.”
Griffiths highlighted the massive rebuilding task ahead, saying,
“There will be a lot of work to reconstruct Syria as well. Many towns I’ve driven through are now
just ruins, similar to the situation in Gaza. Syria has been off the map for years, and now there’s
this moment of hope and opportunity, but we must act quickly.”
On his impressions of meeting Ahmed al-Sharaa, Griffiths remarked, “I thought he was someone
we could work with. W e had a very constructive conversation; we didn’t agree on everything, but
we share the goal of getting aid in quickly and supporting the Syrian people.”
Regarding the reconstruction of Syria, Griffiths noted, “We need billions, and we will provide
more specific numbers on exactly what we need to meet humanitarian needs. These are high
figures, and they don’t stop just because there’s a new government in power. The demand for
food, shelter, water, and medicine is immense, and we need this collective international effort to
achieve it.”
This article outlines the urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs in Syria, highlighting the
international community’s role and the significant financial commitment required to rebuild the
nation.
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