Cairo, 12 March 2025 – I am deeply alarmed by the recent violence in Syria’s coastal areas, where  civilians were killed and injured, including a UN staff member. I condemn the targeting of healthcare workers, hospitals and health facilities - attacks on civilians and on healthcare are a violation of international humanitarian law and cannot be tolerated. 

Peace must prevail. After fourteen years of conflict, women and girls in Syria thirst for peace, recovery, and space to rebuild their shattered lives. They crave safety, healthcare, jobs and education, and an end to violence, displacement and destruction. 

Syria’s recovery and transition must be grounded in justice, based on the principles of non-discrimination and leverage the critical role that women play in peacebuilding. 

UNFPA will continue to provide essential reproductive healthcare services to women and girls in need, and work on preventing and responding to gender-based violence. Protecting women and girls from violence is a moral imperative and a cornerstone of sustainable peace