If humanitarian aid struggled to reach populations under the regime of Bashar al-Assad, the new power in place allowed a large-scale return of assistance, according to Yasmine Praz-Dessimoz, director of operations of the International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC).
“The population is happy and full of hope for their country, for their new Syria,” confides Yasmine Praz-Dessimoz, in an interview given last week to the RTS program Tout un monde. An impression widely shared in Damascus, where life is gradually returning to normal.
However, as one moves further away from the capital, a stark contrast emerges. “I was able to go to Aleppo and then to Idlib. There, along the road, we can see ruins and entire empty neighborhoods,” says the ICRC director of operations.
Clashes persist
During his trip, the most striking image was that of the Aleppo hospital, seriously damaged by the strikes. “All the windows exploded, the main facade of the hospital was destroyed. Civilians were killed in front of the building. Today, patients are grouped in the basements with basic care,” reports -She.
Beyond the enthusiasm, a colossal work of reconstruction remains to be accomplished, both in terms of physical infrastructure and social reconciliation. “There is a lot of work to be done for the Syrians and the new authorities in order to rebuild the country and rebuild themselves,” insists Yasmine Praz-Dessimoz.
She also mentions the unstable situation on the ground, particularly in the north of the country, between Aleppo and Hassaké, where fighting between armed groups continues.
Find information about the missing
Another central aspect of the ICRC’s work is the issue of missing persons. According to the organization, more than 35,000 cases have been recorded, often following arbitrary arrests by regime forces. While some families have been reunited with their loved ones, for many, hope is fading as time passes.
“Several weeks later, families realize that no one has reappeared, no one has come to knock on their door,” notes Yasmine Praz-Dessimoz, adding that the uncertainty is sometimes even more difficult to bear than the loss. herself.
-The ICRC is actively working to collect and protect documents relating to these disappearances, in particular those linked to Saidnaya prison. “We are trying to support the authorities to ensure that this information is retained and used to respond to families’ requests,” she emphasizes.
Dialogue with the new authorities
The evolution of the situation in Syria also allowed the ICRC to begin a dialogue with the new authorities, from the coalition of rebel and Islamist groups. “We were able to initiate contacts with these new authorities from the start,” she explains. “When they were advancing on the city of Aleppo and Homs, they contacted us to make sure we could stay and that they guaranteed our safety.”
“Today, we have open access to the country, which is already a very good thing,” rejoices Yasmine Praz-Dessimoz.
However, she clarified that this is only the beginning and that further efforts are needed to ensure that lessons from the past are learned. “We are explaining to these new authorities how they can learn from the lessons of the past, in particular by guaranteeing access to the new places of detention, which will be created, and by ensuring that information is shared with families,” adds -She.
Comments collected by Cédric Guigon
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