United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has completed what has been described as a historic and highly significant visit to Syria.

The United Nations Security Council has adopted a US-drafted resolution lifting sanctions on Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, effectively granting him a diplomatic “passport” for his visit to the White House this week.

Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has just visited Russia, opening a new phase for Russia-Syria relations. The positive movements taking place in the Middle East have further contributed to increasing the confidence and support of countries for the process of economic reconstruction, post-conflict social healing and international integration of Damascus.

After 14 years mired in civil war, Syria has entered a new chapter of development, albeit accompanied by numerous challenges stemming from ongoing insecurity, ethnic divisions, and complex regional dynamics.

The World Bank (WB) has approved over 1 billion USD for infrastructure and reconstruction projects in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, with Syria—devastated by 14 years of conflict—receiving 146 million USD.

In response to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and under the consent of the Prime Minister, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society has called for all committees, ministries, branches, organisations, agencies, units, enterprises, individuals, benefactors, people of all classes, and all officers, members and volunteers of Red Cross Societies at all levels to give donations to people in earthquake-hit Turkey and Syria.

The world is paying great attention to Turkey and Syria and urgently planning to provide the two countries with timely assistance, in sharing their painful losses, as the information regarding the number of casualties from the recent earthquake, is being constantly updated.