UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism Investigating Serious Crimes in Syria, representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Meteorological Organization. 

Situation in Syria

Robert Petit, Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism - Syria (IIIM), said that this was a momentous time for Syrians, who had for two generations lived under a dictatorial regime. Since taking his position in May 2024, Mr. Petit had met many Syrians, who had never given up hope for inclusive and comprehensive accountability, which was feasible now. The mandate of the IIIM, based on a United Nations General Assembly resolution A/71/248 from 2016, is open-ended. To date the IIIM had collected 283 terabytes of data to support current and future jurisdictions, informed Mr. Petit. Aiming for comprehensive accountability for Syria, the IIIM supports different jurisdictions; so far, the IIIM assists 16 jurisdictions around the world, many of which had led to prosecutions, trials, and verdicts. The IIIM had supported many of these judicial proceedings, explained Mr. Petit. The IIIM has developed a structural investigation, looking at the entirety of the Syrian conflict, producing analytical products, along with information and evidence, it shared with jurisdictions. These were based on material gathered through various sources, most significantly from Syrian civil society. Information and evidence were also collected from national and international actors, including UN-appointed bodies, such as the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, and was consolidated within the IIIM’s central repository. 

Since the events in Syria unfolded, the IIIM was adjusting to the new reality, using its close network of trusted sources inside and outside of Syria to get an accurate picture of what was happening on the ground. The first 48 hours of the situation following the fall of the regime had been quite chaotic in Damascus, leading to a potential loss of some evidence, noted Mr. Petit. It was hoped that the transitional authorities and other actors would be aware of the urgent need to preserve evidence for future use in justice processes. 

After 14 years of conflict, a massive amount of documentation existed. Several national and international actors had offered to help the transitional authorities to preserve the existing evidence, which ought to continue without delay. The situation varied from one governate to another, and the IIIM was trying to follow events across the country, parts of which were still undergoing an armed conflict. There is now potential to access evidence related to the highest echelons of the former regime, and most critically to clarify the fate of the tens of thousands of disappeared or detained Syrians. There was also the opportunity, to identify key witnesses to the crimes and violations that had occurred over the past 14 years, as well as potential suspects, which would provide grounds for investigations and various judicial processes. 

It was expected that there would be an increased demand from jurisdictions for assistance from the IIIM. The priority was to preserve the existing evidence, ideally protecting it in place and limiting access; any interaction with material should be documented meticulously to preserve its integrity for future use. The IIIM hoped to play a constructive role in this process, and it had reiterated to the new authorities its availability and willingness to deploy and help. Finally, Mr. Petit emphasized the need for accountability; and the process had to be Syrian-led if the country was to transition to a law-based society.

Answering questions from the media, Mr. Petit said that monitoring social media was part of the IIIM’s work, as it was a potential source of new evidence and testimonies. The IIIM has close to eight years of experience; still, the effect of terror on the victims was only now becoming fully visible and was shocking. In the turmoil that followed the fall of the regime, there had been reports of computers being taken away, hard drives burnt or damaged, papers scattered everywhere, but it was difficult to gauge exactly how much evidence had been lost thus far. The immediate priority for the IIIM would be to gain access to Syria and ascertain the scope of the issue. The IIIM could help with the process of identifying mass grave sites, which had been part of the Mechanism’s investigative efforts over the years. 

Responding to further questions, Mr. Petit stated that the IIIM's mandate was ongoing and covered crimes committed in Syria since March 2011 onwards. The IIIM had over the years accumulated many names of individuals of interest and would continue to monitor the situation and respond to requests for assistance from jurisdictions. Mr. Petit explained that some jurisdictions the IIIM was supporting had allowed it to acknowledge the normally confidential cooperation between them, including Sweden, France, Germany and the United States of America. The International Criminal Court did not have jurisdiction over Syria because Syria was not a signatory of the Rome Statute; nonetheless, there were pathways towards a limited jurisdiction. Any and all measures for bringing accountability should be favoured and supported. 

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, was currently in Syria where he was meeting with a number of stakeholders. In his statement the previous day, the Secretary-General had welcomed the Caretaker Government’s commitment to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers and their agreement to grant full humanitarian access through all border crossings. Today, the Security Council would hear from USG Fletcher and from Special Envoy Geir O. Pedersen in a public briefing and consultations starting at 4 p.m. Geneva time, live on UN Web TV.

Rema Jamous Imseis, Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that recent developments brought a tremendous amount of hope, but also immense challenges. The security situation remained fluid, and over one million people had been displaced in recent weeks. Thousands were returning to Syria, but thousands of others were also leaving the country. Those returning were doing so to a country devastated by over a decade of the civil war, where a huge majority of people were living under the poverty line. It had to be recognized that a change in the regime did not automatically mean an end to the humanitarian needs in the country. The past 14 years had decimated the country, stressed Ms. Jamous Imseis. UNHCR emphasized that nobody should be forcibly returned to Syria. Given the ongoing uncertainty, UNHCR called on States to be patient and not make any drastic decision until there was more clarity about safe returns. At this moment, over 80 percent of UNHCR’s community centres were operational. The international community’s support was highly needed, as humanitarian needs had in no way diminished. Early recovery and reconstruction efforts also had to be supported, emphasized UNHCR, which was sharing its preparedness and recovery plans with donors today. One million Syrians were forecast to return by June 2025, according to UNHCR estimates, in cooperation with other UN partners. UNHCR was agile and adapted to the new operational reality, for which continued support from donors was needed. 

Answering questions from the media, Ms. Jamous Imseis explained that there were still no immigration officials on the Syrian side of the Lebanese-Syrian border so there was no way to record who was entering or leaving the country. It was thus difficult to provide a comprehensive picture. There was also no solid information on a possible movement of people from the occupied Golan Heights and adjacent areas because of the Israeli attacks. On another question, Ms. Jamous Imseis said that for some people the change in Syria marked a moment of hope and optimism, but others, such as religious minorities or those linked to the former regime, might be feeling vulnerable and were inclined to leave the country. She reiterated that it was way too early to proclaim Syria a safe country to return to and appealed to asylum countries not to rush in this regard. Additional time was needed to assess the situation on the ground and whether it was safe to go back. Countries were obliged to respect the principle of non-refoulement. Ms. Jamous Imseis explained that some people were going back and forth from Lebanon and Türkiye to Syria and back, in so-called “pendulum movements”.

Global H5N1 avian influenza situation

Dr. Gregorio Torres, Head of the Science Department, World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), speaking from France, said that since October 2021, this disease had caused the deaths of more than 300 million birds worldwide, affecting the livelihood of millions of people. While historically confined to avian species, the virus was increasingly crossing species barriers, impacting a different range of domestic and wild mammals and causing devastating impact in the ecosystem. These developments posed significant challenges to animal, human and environmental health. WOAH was closely monitoring the evolution of the disease and enhance global coordination for prevention and early response. WOAH regularly updated its science-based recommendations and called on its Member States to take immediate action to strengthen and scale up surveillance in domestic and wild birds; stop animal-to-animal transmission by enhancing biosecurity and early detection systems in poultry, cattle and other livestock in high-risk areas and take actions in case of positive results; and transparently report all avian influenza cases, including in animal hosts other than birds, through the World Animal Health Information System – WAHIS portal. Dr. Torres emphasized that, based on current knowledge, safe international trade in poultry was possible if the risk mitigation measures recommended by WOAH international standards were in place, which included trade from vaccinated animals. If different organizations, veterinary services and producers from different countries worked together, this global threat could be mitigated and the health of animals, people, and ecosystems worldwide could be safeguarded.

Dr. Madhur Dhingra, Senior Animal Health Officer for Infectious Diseases at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), speaking from India, said that, in addition to the direct impact on livelihoods, the economic burden on farmers could lead to reduced investments in biosecurity measures, which increased the risk and leads to a dangerous cycle of risk, vulnerability, and loss. In regions heavily reliant on poultry as a primary protein source, the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) posed a serious threat to food and nutrition security. When HPAI had been initially detected in Latin America, FAO had conducted a rapid risk assessment in March 2023, which had identified the valuable role of backyard poultry production, and the potential of HPAI to exacerbate food insecurity in over 35 percent of the countries assessed. To reduce the shocks, FAO had supported ten countries in Latin America for regional risk information sharing and emergency management. 

The impacts of HPAI had spilled over into wildlife, more than 500 bird species and over 70 mammalian species affected, including endangered animals like the California condor and polar bears. The biodiversity impacts, particularly among seabirds and marine mammals, and disruption of fragile ecosystems, such as the Antarctic region, were concerning. With the recent emergence of H5N1 influenza virus in dairy cattle, FAO's Emergency Prevention System had produced a technical publication to summarize the emerging situation, knowledge gaps and recommended risk management actions. In response to requests for guidance from Member states, FAO had also recently published recommendations on surveillance in cattle and other farmed mammals for early detection. Dr. Dhingra informed that the FAO and the WOAH had recently launched the revised ten-year Global Control Strategy for HPAI, a key component of which was transformation of the poultry systems to become more resilient, safeguarding livelihoods, biodiversity, and global health. 

Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, Director a.i, Epidemic and Pandemic Threat Management, at the World Health Organization (WHO), speaking from France, stressed that human health and animal health were closely linked, and protecting animals, improving surveillance, and strengthening biosecurity on farms were critical in keeping animals and humans safe. In 2024, 76 people had been reported to be infected with H5 avian influenza viruses, most of them farm workers. Sixty-one of the 76 cases reported this year, had been reported from the US, which had also reported outbreaks of H5 in wildlife and poultry and, more recently, in dairy cattle. Dr. Van Kerkhove reminded that the WHO had, for 70 years, the Global Influenza and Surveillance Response System (GISRS), and since 2011, the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness or PIP Framework. WHO was always working in a readiness mode, relying on GISRS that included institutions in 130 countries globally to track and study the virus. WHO, with partners and national authorities, regularly conducted detailed virological and epidemiological assessments, and ensures that existing candidate vaccines continue to be effective against the changing virus.  

Based on the available information, the WHO assessed that the risk of infection for the public was currently low. However, for farm workers and others who were exposed to infected animals, the current public health risk was estimated as low-to-moderate, depending on certain factors such as the risk mitigation measures in place, the access and use of personal protective equipment such as coveralls, respirator masks, eye protection, gloves, and boots. The H5N1 viruses remained avian viruses, which had not adapted to spread between people, and thus far, among these cases, there had been no reported or identified human-to-human transmission through follow-up epidemiologic, virologic and serologic investigations. This could change quickly as the virus was evolving. WHO strongly advised that thorough investigations take place around each and every human detection to assess the possibility of human-to-human spread. Dr. Van Kerkhove informed that cows infected with the H5N1 virus had been reported to have high viral loads in their milk, which was why it was important to reiterate the longstanding advice to consume pasteurized milk. If pasteurized milk was not available, heating milk until it boiled also made it safe for consumption. Similarly, the WHO recommended thoroughly cooking meat and eggs when in areas affected by avian flu outbreaks. 

Answering questions from the media, Dr. Van Kerkhove said that there had been a change in the reported numbers over time. The 76 reported cases this year was not unusual, however, and most of these cases were reported to be mild. Member States were urged to have more surveillance, especially among people dealing with livestock. Improvements in biosecurity and personal protection equipment for those working with animals were also recommended. There was now more attention given to avian influenza, which ought to be more comprehensively surveilled around the world. There was an entire global system in place to monitor, detect and sequence influenza viruses. In recent years, bird influenza was spreading to land birds and mammals, which required a multidisciplinary approach. 

Human-to-human transmissions had not been detected so far, reiterated Dr. Van Kerkhove, responding to another question. Active case finding and analysis was necessary to ascertain if there were any cases of human-to-human transmission. The H5N1 virus was still being actively assessed, for which surveillance was of critical importance, and countries had to be prepared for different scenarios. Dr. Torres, for the WOAH, also emphasized the importance of integrated surveillance. Dr. Dhingra, for the FAO, added that the monitoring work was taking place both at the global and local level, cooperating directly with countries. Transmission between cattle was different from transmission among poultry, explained Dr. Torres, and more needed to be known in this regard; biosecurity and surveillance were the two key aspects. In the United States, all but two of the reported cases had been connected to infected animals. WHO recommended seasonal flu vaccines for vulnerable groups and formed part of the global influenza prevention efforts. WHO was continuing to work to reduce any anxieties related to vaccines or testing. 

Responding to a question on mpox cases in Germany, Dr. Van Kerkhove reminded of the joint WHO-UNICEF guidance on preventing mpox in schools and learning space. 

Cyclone Chido

Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), spoke of total devastation, despair, and loss of life because of the tropical cyclone Chido in the southwest Indian ocean. The French overseas department of Mayotte had been absolutely devastated by the cyclone, which had led to hundreds of deaths. Chido had made a landfall in Mayotte on 14 December with the wind speeds of more than 200 km/h, and gusts of more than 225 km/h. It was the strongest storm to hit Mayotte in at least 90 years, according to Météo-France. The cyclone had destroyed parts of the Météo-France observation systems, which had issued a rarely used violet alert. A lot of housing structures had been destroyed, and the death toll was set to rise. From Mayotte, the cyclone had made a landfall in Mozambique on 15 December before weakening. Ms. Nullis said that the 2024-2025 cyclone season in the southwest Indian Ocean was expected to be characterized by near normal to above normal activity, with 9 to 13 systems predicted, of which four to seven may reach tropical cyclone stage, according to the outlook. She emphasized the importance of early warning. 

Eujin Byun, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), stated that Chido had stricken northern Mozambique over the weekend, bringing torrential rains and powerful winds that had devastated communities in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces. The storm had destroyed homes, displaced thousands, and severely damaged roads and communication networks, hampering relief efforts in areas already hosting large numbers of forcibly displaced people. UNHCR was deeply concerned about the impact on these vulnerable communities and was working closely with the Government of Mozambique and humanitarian partners to provide immediate assistance. Within the first 48 hours, UNHCR had provided assistance at the largest accommodation centre in Pemba, the capital of Cabo Delgado, where more than 2,600 people had received emergency relief and essential items such as blankets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, and emergency shelter supplies. UNHCR was also coordinating the provision of vital protection services to the most vulnerable.

UNHCR was worried that Cyclone Chido might signal the start of an intense and destructive rainy season, which had historically brought cyclones and severe flooding to the region. Displaced communities and their hosts, already struggling to recover, now faced increased risks of further displacement and loss, highlighting once again that climate impacts continue hitting the most vulnerable the hardest.

Full UNHCR statement is available here. 

Responding to a question, Ms. Nullis quoted a statement from Météo-France, according to which it could not establish a direct connection between climate change and the devastating effects of cyclone Chido on Mayotte.

Announcements

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that 18 December would be the International Migrants Day, on which occasion the Secretary-General’s message had been shared. On this occasion, the third episode of the new UNTV Geneva series “3 minutes” would be distributed and could be watched here .

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