A human centred recovery with decent jobs is crucial in addressing plight of Syrians and host communities

ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat presented a statement to the Sixth Brussels Conference on Supporting the future of Syria and the region.

Press release | 10 May 2022
© European Union
Brussels (ILO News) - In its statement to the Sixth Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, the ILO called on the international community to support a human-centred recovery and a future with decent jobs for the people of Syria and its neighbours.

Addressing participants during the second and final day of the conference, which began with a meeting of foreign ministers, representatives of the Syrian people and European Union and United Nations officials, ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat stressed the importance of keeping they Syria crisis at the forefront of global concern.

“As new crises engulf parts of the world, the plight of the Syrian people continues. Both inside their own country and in the neighbouring countries that continue to generously host millions of refugees,” Jaradat said, addressing conference participants. “This Brussels conference brings Syria and the region back in focus, and we join other speakers in thanking the European Union for their continued commitment to supporting the Syrian people.”

Jaradat added: “The recent surge in food and fuel costs pose important and immediate new challenges to the region. Livelihoods and jobs for refugees and host communities alike are even further under stress.”

© ILO
Jaradat highlighted the repercussions the Syria crisis has had on the wider region: “The burden for neighbouring countries continues to be significant, especially for Lebanon and Jordan. With the challenges flowing from the war in Ukraine and severe strains on public budgets, support to enhance the resilience of the Syrian people must be strengthened to prevent the further deterioration of their living conditions.”

“As part of the UN, the ILO and its partners have been implementing programmes that promote gainful employment, that build employable skills and that make SMEs more resilient,” she added.

Jaradat concluded: “Host communities and refugees need our solidarity - and our action - to support a human-centred recovery and a future with decent jobs for the people of Syria and its neighbours.”

On the first day of the conference, Jaradat had participated in a panel discussion exploring the Political, social and economic empowerment of Syrian youth both in and outside Syria. She highlighted how youth in Syria face extremely difficult realities in education and the labour market, with an unemployment rate of around 75 per cent.