Syria calls on developed countries to help developing countries mitigate impacts of climate change

New York, SANA- Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Qussai Dahhak, stressed the need to strengthen international cooperation in the field of climate action, and for developed countries to assume their responsibilities in providing the necessary assistance to developing countries, and to fulfill their obligations to mitigate the catastrophic impacts of climate change. 

During the Security Council’s high-level open debate on Tuesday, Dahhak underlined the necessity of immediately, completely and unconditionally lift the coercive measures that hinder providing technical support and modern technologies and the grants and aid allocated to developing countries to enable them to achieve sustainable development goals. 

“This month marks the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck Syria on the sixth of February 2023, which left thousands of victims and injured, and destroyed hundreds of buildings, infrastructure and service facilities,” Dahhak said. 

He added that Syria has done its best to deal with the disaster, carry out rescue work and provide care and support to the affected, and granted the necessary facilitations to the United Nations and its specialized agencies. 

The Syrian Permanent Representative to the United Nations added that the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States and the European Union on the Syrian people hindered relief and humanitarian work, prevented the provision of heavy machinery, civil protection equipment, basic medical equipment and materials necessary to rescue victims, and deprived the affected and Syrians of all their basic needs. 

Dahhak noted that Syria, like other countries, is affected by climate change, which has caused a decrease in rainfall, increased drought, desertification, and dust storms, which has had negative repercussions on the lives of Syrians and their ability to secure their basic needs. 

Dahhak slammed the practices of the Turkish government which have exacerbated the suffering of the Syrian people due to its violation of its international obligations and bilateral agreements. 

He pointed out that the continued Israeli occupation of the Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan, has serious repercussions on the environment, as a result of the occupying power bulldozing agricultural lands, cutting down fruit trees, burying hazardous waste, and using internationally prohibited weapons.