Fifteen years of trauma and international failure have weighed heavily on the Syrian people, a sentiment echoed by Martin Griffiths, who held significant roles within the United Nations' humanitarian efforts. Griffiths, formerly of the UN's Special Envoy’s Office and head of UN OCHA, acknowledged his direct involvement in past international engagements, stating he cannot claim innocence.

During his tenure, Griffiths participated in numerous meetings with senior officials of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, including the former president himself. These engagements, often perceived as trades for better humanitarian access, were described by Griffiths as necessities for humanitarian agencies to interact with any party capable of affecting aid delivery. Mediators, he explained, must meet all parties to a conflict to facilitate peace.

Griffiths recounted his direct efforts to press al-Assad for decisions benefiting his people. He detailed a particularly stark exchange in 2012, where a government official dismissed negotiations on detentions, stating, "Stop wasting your time on this. We will never let them out. Nor will we ever admit to this truth." In a 2022 private meeting, al-Assad claimed jails were empty of detainees, a statement Griffiths met with skepticism.

Following devastating earthquakes in 2023, Griffiths met al-Assad three times, aiming to persuade him to act for the welfare and rights of his people. These efforts ultimately failed, and Griffiths noted that the Syrian people were ultimately "saved by military action," with the subsequent "takeover of Damascus set[ting] the table for peace."

Griffiths expressed a bitter realization that "action, not talk, was what was needed," and that this might have been the case "all those years earlier." He identified the international community's "original sin" as setting aside regime change from the outset, opting instead for initiatives like "Friends of Syria," which he believes made "almost no difference to the daily toll of detentions and deaths."

The current situation in Syria demands a renewed focus on stabilization, particularly its economy. Griffiths stressed the urgent need for international support and the creation of a safer investment climate. This shift in approach, he suggests, is crucial to prevent the Syrian people from being "failed again" by the international community.

The path forward, according to Griffiths, involves not just humanitarian aid but also fostering conditions that encourage economic recovery and security. Without these elements, the long-term well-being and stability of Syria remain uncertain, despite the changes brought about by recent military actions.

Griffiths's reflections highlight the complex and often tragic history of international intervention in Syria, underscoring the need for a more effective and decisive approach to address the ongoing suffering and to build a sustainable future for the country.