SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on the international community to increase support for Syria’s health sector, stressing that maintaining healthcare services today is “a bridge to recovery tomorrow.”

Christina Bethke, acting WHO representative in Syria, said during a press conference in Geneva that 417 health facilities across the country have been affected by funding cuts since mid-2025, with 366 facilities suspending or reducing services.

Bethke warned that as Syria transitions from emergency response to recovery, a “transitional gap” has emerged, where humanitarian funding is declining before national systems can fully take over.

She noted that 7.4 million people in Syria have already seen reduced access to medicines and treatment, with only 58% of hospitals and 23% of primary healthcare centers operating at full capacity. Chronic shortages of medicines, electricity, and equipment continue to keep services fragile, she added.

Despite the government’s strong commitment and the adoption of a two-year national health strategy, Bethke said that needs are growing rapidly.

Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Mansi affirmed that relations between Lebanon and Syria are witnessing positive development on both the political and security levels.

According to the National News Agency, Mansi said in an interview with Tele Liban that the current stage is marked by clear positivity in ties between Beirut and Damascus, noting that security cooperation is paving the way for a new phase of openness and understanding between the two countries.

He explained that recent incidents along the border prompted both sides to establish a joint operations room for direct coordination between Lebanese and Syrian military posts, which has helped reduce tensions.

On combating drug and Captagon smuggling, Mansi said that while main production facilities were previously in Syria, “some activities later shifted to Lebanon,” emphasizing that security coordination between the two armies has led to a significant decrease in smuggling operations.

Regarding border demarcation, the minister stated that the issue will be addressed through specialized committees at the appropriate time, noting that both sides have the political will to reach an agreement.

Syria and Saudi Arabia discussed prospects for strengthening strategic cultural cooperation during a meeting between Saudi Minister of Culture and Chairman of the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and Syria’s Ambassador to UNESCO Louay Falouh, held on the sidelines of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the talks focused on coordinating efforts to safeguard shared cultural heritage and promote cultural dialogue between the two countries.

Minister bin Farhan affirmed that cooperation with Syria would strengthen common civilizational values, support sustainable development, and open new opportunities for cultural exchange. He noted that Saudi Arabia has made culture a key pillar of Vision 2030, recognizing its central role in national development.

For his part, Ambassador Falouh highlighted the depth of bilateral relations and expressed Syria’s interest in expanding cooperation to include archaeological restoration, heritage preservation, and exchange of cultural expertise.

The Syrian Telecommunications Company has launched maintenance work on the fibre optic cable connecting Deir ez-Zor city to the western countryside, reaching the town of Ma’dan Atiq near the administrative border with Raqqa Province.

Dawoud al-Abdullah, head of the press office at the company’s Deir ez-Zor branch, told SANA that the repair operation is part of a broader plan to modernise the province’s communications network and ensure stable, efficient services for residents.

“The maintenance will continue for several days under safety measures designed to minimise disruptions and maintain steady coverage,” al-Abdullah said in a phone statement on Wednesday.

He explained that the team is replacing damaged sections of the fibre line and reinforcing relay points that connect Deir ez-Zor to the national grid. The work, he added, supports a government-wide program to restore essential services in liberated areas.

Telecommunications infrastructure in Deir ez-Zor sustained heavy damage during years of sabotage, looting and vandalism, leaving key lines inoperative and reducing service quality across fixed and mobile networks.

fficials say the current phase targets priority corridors linking urban centres and rural communities to national backbone systems.

Minister of Energy Mohammad al-Bashir and his accompanying delegation visited the Hassyan power and desalination project in the United Arab Emirates, operated by ACWA Power, one of the region’s leading companies in power generation and water desalination.

The visit took place on the sidelines of the ADIPEC 2025 exhibition and conference, where the minister reviewed the progress of construction and the advanced technologies applied at the facility, including high-efficiency generation systems and modern desalination solutions.

During the meeting with project officials, both sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation, exchange technical expertise, and expand partnerships in sustainable and clean energy projects, contributing to the development of infrastructure and the transition toward advanced energy sources.

The visit comes as part of the minister’s participation in ADIPEC 2025 and within the Ministry of Energy’s efforts to strengthen collaboration with global energy firms, benefit from international experiences, and support Syria’s energy development and sustainability goals.

Four ships carrying 94,000 tons of wheat have arrived at Tartous Port as part of ongoing import operations aimed at reinforcing Syria’s strategic grain reserves and meeting the daily needs of flour mills across all provinces.

Engineer Hassan Othman, Director General of the Syrian Grain Corporation, told SANA’s correspondent that the arrival of these shipments reflects the corporation’s continued efforts to secure Syria’s wheat requirements.

He noted that the corporation closely monitors the implementation of supply contracts to ensure steady deliveries that help stabilize bread production and availability for citizens.

Othman said the corporation is coordinating with relevant authorities to accelerate transportation and storage processes according to approved technical standards, in order to preserve grain quality and ensure smooth production in flour mills.

He added that all procedures are being directly supervised by the Ministry of Economy and Industry as part of national efforts to strengthen food security.

He confirmed that the corporation will continue receiving additional wheat shipments in the coming period to further consolidate strategic reserves and maintain supply stability nationwide.

This step comes within a series of scheduled imports carried out by the Syrian Grain Corporation to maintain balanced wheat availability and ensure the provision of subsidized flour to bakeries across the country.

On Tuesday, a separate shipment carrying 23,500 tons of wheat from Ukraine arrived at Latakia Port, further supporting Syria’s ongoing efforts to secure basic commodities.

The United Nations and its humanitarian partners have continued expanding their relief operations in the Gaza Strip under a 60-day response plan, managing to deliver large quantities of aid despite ongoing logistical challenges.

OCHA: People in Gaza Strip face catastrophic hunger
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement carried by media outlets on Tuesday that aid teams received 80 truckloads of relief goods on Sunday to supply Gaza with essential assistance, despite heavy congestion hindering aid collection efforts.

OCHA reported that nearly one million people in the Strip have received food assistance through 46 distribution points since mid-October. It added that more than 120,000 packages of fortified cereals were distributed to children to prevent malnutrition, while partners also provided over 2,400 hygiene kits and began rehabilitating three water wells in Gaza City.

In addition, 210 tons of animal feed were distributed to about 1,700 herders, OCHA said.
The office stressed that achieving the full goals of the humanitarian plan requires a permanent ceasefire, more efficient crossings, the removal of obstacles, and safe, unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.

Separately, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher warned that the continued Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians and their property in the West Bank violate international law, calling for those responsible to be held accountable.

UN relief agencies have so far delivered more than 24,000 tons of aid to Gaza since the ceasefire took effect on October 10.

Israeli occupation forces carried out a new incursion on Wednesday into the town of Jabata al-Khashab in the countryside of Quneitra Province, in southern Syria.

According to SANA’s reporter in Quneitra, an Israeli force consisting of two tanks and four military vehicles entered the town and set up a checkpoint at the entrance to the al-Kasarat area, on the road linking Jabata al-Khashab to the village of Ain al-Bayda in northern Quneitra countryside.

Israeli forces continue their repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty, in breach of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, international law, and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Syria has condemned these recurring Israeli incursions, calling on the international community to take urgent action to stop such aggressions.

Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Kabawat represented Syria at the Second World Summit for Social Development which kicked off Tuesday in the Qatari capital.

In her address to the summit, Kabawat underscored the importance of strengthening international cooperation to confront social and economic challenges. She highlighted Syria’s efforts to advance social protection programs, empower women and youth, and expand support for the most vulnerable groups.

The summit features a series of panel discussions on social justice, empowerment of marginalized communities, and sustainable development policies. Participants are exchanging experiences and best practices to promote more inclusive and equitable growth that meets peoples’ aspirations for a stable and fair future.

Running through Nov. 6, the summit brings together more than 8,000 participants, including heads of state and government, ministers, representatives of the United Nations, civil society, academia, the private sector, and youth organizations. The event aims to renew global commitment to social justice and translate it into concrete actions that place people at the center of sustainable development.

Amer Dhawa