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Syria: UN and partners urge action to preserve evidence of prison atrocities, stabilize country

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria five days ago, hundreds of people have rushed to Saydnaya prison, desperate to find loved ones. Disturbing images from the prison and other detention centers have since surfaced, exposing the “unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured for years,” said Jenifer Fenton, spokesperson for the UN special envoy for Syria, on Friday. Quoting from a statement by Special Envoy Geir O. Pedersen, she described these scenes as a “testament to unspeakable suffering and pain beyond comprehension endured by those detained, their families, and their loved ones.”

These images, however, reveal just a glimpse of the horrors inflicted within Syria’s detention system. Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Ms. Fenton called for “decisive, compassionate action” to aid families of the detained, missing, and recently freed. She highlighted the urgent need for medical care, psychological support, legal assistance, and safe shelter.

The UN Envoy has stressed that preserving detention sites, mass graves, and documentation is critical for accountability and justice. “Evidence of the atrocities must be preserved and thoroughly documented to ensure accountability under international humanitarian law. Justice for the victims and their families is not only a right but essential for healing and preventing further violations,” Ms. Fenton quoted the statement as saying. She also urged authorities to release children, women, and men still arbitrarily detained.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has documented 35,000 missing individuals in Syria, but the true number is likely much higher due to cases unreported to the ICRC. Many families remain in agonizing uncertainty about the fate of their loved ones. The ICRC called for immediate discussions with interim authorities to safeguard evidence, including documents and mass graves.

“There will be a need for a repository to collect this information. Such a repository does not yet exist, and we are offering to work with the authorities to determine the best way to proceed,” said Stephan Sakalian, ICRC’s head of delegation for Syria.

The situation in Syria remains volatile. While some refugees are returning, others are leaving or taking a “wait-and-see” approach, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

UNHCR’s representative in Syria, Gonzalo Vargas Llosa identified three critical needs for Syria’s sustainable recovery, in line with the expectations of its returning citizens: “First, a peaceful political transition at the top. Second, tolerance, reconciliation, and acceptance in communities where Syrians are returning. And third, Syrians need not just immediate relief, but an injection of international support to resume a dignified life.”

An interagency appeal launched in October sought US $324 million for relief efforts through March 2025. So far, only US $88 million has been funded through contributions and projections.

Ends

Syria prisoners and missing – OSE, ICRC, UNHCR 13 December 2024

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