The UN Security Council held an online monthly discussion on the Syrian situation on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo

GENEVA — Việt Nam has called on the international community to increase support to help Syria cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and deal with food security problems.

Speaking at the UN Security Council’s online monthly discussion on the Syrian situation, Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, head of the Việt Nam mission to the UN, expressed his concern about challenges facing millions of Syrian people, including conflicts that have killed civilians and adverse impacts from the economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

He underlined the urgent need to seek a comprehensive political solution to the crisis and increase humanitarian aid to the country.

The ambassador urged all relevant parties in Syria to create the most favourable conditions for effective humanitarian operations and call on the international community to continue their support during this critical moment. The assistance should be strengthened to increase COVID-19 response capability, fight food insecurity and provide adequate winter supplies, he stated.

According to the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, the Syrian government and the opposition have yet to agree on the agenda and the time for their next meeting since their last meeting in late August.

Pedersen hoped the talks can be resumed in November this year. Meanwhile, attacks targeting civilians have taken place almost every day, he added.

Meanwhile, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has developed in the country. The official report showed that the country has over 5,000 infections, but he held that the real count is much higher as the testing conditions remain poor and community infections persist.

The economic crisis has also worsened food security in Syria, while food prices have risen 90 percent over the past six months, together with a serious shortage of commodities, he said. — VNS