UN Team Visits Syria After Assad’s Fall
Investigating missing persons, human rights abuses, and Syria’s ongoing crisis.
Source: UN / Image:© IIMP Syria
A UN team recently visited Damascus, Syria’s capital, marking a step toward uncovering the truth about the country’s past and ongoing crises. It has been two months since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Rebel forces, who began seizing cities in late November last year, eventually took control of Damascus, forcing Assad to flee the country. This marked the end of a 14-year civil war and nearly five decades of authoritarian rule.
The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham faction now holds de facto control but faces major political and economic challenges. Syria continues to suffer from a humanitarian crisis and a legacy of widespread human rights violations from the previous regime. Addressing these crimes, identifying missing persons, and ensuring justice for victims are crucial for Syria’s stability and progress.
UN Investigation into Missing Persons
On February 10, a team from the Independent Institution for Missing Persons (IIMP) completed its first visit to Syria, with cooperation from the interim administration. The team met with local authorities, NGOs, and affected families in Daraa and Tadamon, areas marked by destruction, suffering, and loss. They also visited the infamous Saydnaya prison, speaking with families struggling to trace their missing relatives.
During the visit, a common message emerged:
“Everyone in Syria knows someone who is missing. We have all lost someone.”
In the coming weeks, the IIMP will propose a project to help collect information and uncover the fate of missing persons.
Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
Before Assad’s fall, around 16 million Syrians relied on humanitarian aid amid severe economic hardship. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that last week, 19 aid trucks entered northwestern Syria, delivering 300 tons of food for 90,000 people and medical and educational supplies for 450,000 people.
The UNICEF has warned that nearly 15 years of war and displacement continue to devastate families. In response, efforts are underway to provide winter clothing for children during the cold season.
UN’s Commitment to Justice
In June 2023, the UN General Assembly established the IIMP, the only body dedicated to investigating missing persons in Syria.
Additionally, the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) was formed in 2016 to gather evidence and hold perpetrators accountable. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria continues to report human rights violations to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, investigating crimes since March 2011.
As Syria moves forward, the role of international institutions in justice, reconciliation, and rebuilding remains critical.
