International Commission of inquiry expresses concern over continued killing against Alawite

The head of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, said during his address to the 59th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva that the security vacuum left by the dissolution of the armed forces and security services following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, along with the lack of clarity on the new justice framework, contributed to a climate in which victims of past crimes and violations sought to take the lead and settle scores.

He added, "It is worrying to see continued reports of killings and arbitrary arrests of members of the Alawite community, as well as the confiscation of property belonging to those who fled the violence that erupted last March."

The head of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria stated that "the Syrian conflict has not been without internal challenges and grievances, many of which have been exacerbated by external interventions."

Challenges of Return and the Humanitarian Situation

The Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria expressed his satisfaction with the return of more than two million Syrians since December, including nearly 600,000 who returned from neighboring countries, and just under 1.5 million internally displaced persons.

However, he noted that for many of the more than seven million Syrians who remain displaced, enormous property challenges will have to be addressed following widespread destruction, looting, and confiscation of homes and land. He noted that Syria's "extremely complex political transition" is occurring at a time when humanitarian needs are at their highest levels since 2011.

He said that despite recent encouraging steps toward lifting sectoral sanctions and opening the country to new investment, nearly 16.5 million Syrians remain in need of humanitarian assistance, including nearly 3 million people facing severe food insecurity.

T/S

ANHA