A displaced Syrian woman sits with her daughter outside their tent at a refugee camp in Bar Elias, eastern Lebanon's Bekaa valley, March 5, 2021. /CFP
As 10 years of protracted conflict in Syria have brought untold suffering to the country and its people, many issues with regard to the current situation in the country warrant deep reflections, said a Chinese envoy on Monday.
Facts have proved time and again that respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity is an international norm that must be upheld, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.
Political solution is the only viable way to address hot-button issues. Supporting the path of development chosen by the people of every country that suits its national conditions is the fundamental way, Zhang told the Security Council.
Under current circumstances, the international community should adopt a holistic approach, integrating the political, security, economic, and humanitarian aspects, so as to jointly promote the early achievement of peace, security, and development, said Zhang.
Given the acute pandemic and food security issues in Syria, targeted relief assistance should be provided with a focus on the humanitarian needs of women, children and other vulnerable groups.
Recently, China provided Syria with 150,000 doses of vaccines and more than 680 tonnes of rice as the first batch of aid, and will continue to contribute to alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Syria, he said.
A displaced Syrian man rides a motorcycle with his son at a refugee camp in Bar Elias, in eastern Lebanon's Bekaa valley, March 5, 2021. /CFP
The economic situation in Syria is at its worst since the conflict began a decade ago, according to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
At the ongoing Brussels V Conference, the international community has been called on to donate more than $9 billion to address the most critical humanitarian issues affecting Syria and neighboring countries that host Syrian refugees, according to Euronews.
Held virtually on Monday and Tuesday, the Brussels V Conference on "Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region" aims to help the people most affected by the war, providing financial assistance to refugees and the humanitarian organizations involved in providing relief.
According to the United Nations World Food Program, there are now 12.4 million hungry people in Syria.
A spokesperson of the conference estimates that were they to form a queue, it would stretch from Brussels, Belgium to Darwin, Australia – spanning a total distance of 13,588 kilometers.
(With input from Xinhua)