DAMASCUS (AFP) – A United Nations (UN) official visiting Damascus said yesterday there was a basis for the “ambitious scaling-up” of aid, after the country’s new leaders assured the UN of full humanitarian access.
UN chief Antonio Guterres earlier welcomed the “caretaker government’s commitment to protect civilians” and humanitarian workers. “I also welcome their agreement to grant full
humanitarian access through all border crossings; cut through bureaucracy over permits and visas for humanitarian workers; ensure the continuity of essential government services, including health and education; and engage in genuine and practical dialogue with the wider humanitarian community,” he said in a statement on Monday.
Guterres sent the UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher to Damascus for talks on Monday with Abu Mohammed al-Jolani and interim Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir.
Jolani, who now uses his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, heads the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which led the lightning offensive that ousted president Bashar al-Assad.
Fletcher said yesterday on X that it was a “moment of cautious hope in Syria”.
