Syria: Druze Community

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick Excerpts

Thursday 17th July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We are working very closely with actors on the ground, not least civil society organisations, and support all the things that need to be done in order to achieve accountability. That does matter. I thank the noble Lord opposite for the cross-party nature of our position on this. That is incredibly helpful and something that I hope can continue.

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, watching the scenes as they unfold in Syria, I suggest that it is important that we provide support and solidarity to underpin the very fragile democracy that is now in place there. Will the Minister comment on the possibility of the UK Government working with other countries within the G7 to establish an international fund to underpin that democracy, rebuild human relationships and reconciliation and address famine and starvation in Syria and the wider Middle East?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

It is vital that the international community comes together to support emerging stability in Syria. We are very willing to do that, and we are engaged in that process, but we need to support the Governments of countries that have been supporting Syrians away from their home for very many years now, at great cost to themselves and with great pressure, sometimes, on their societies. Jordan has done a huge amount over very many years. We work closely with the Government of Jordan. This truly is a moment when the international community, beyond some of the usual actors, needs to come together, co-ordinate and make sure that we do everything we possibly can to secure the future of Syria.