 I'm honored to be here today at the Virtual UN Syria Brussels Conference. This conference offers a meaningful opportunity for the international community to stand together in solidarity with the millions of Syrians whose lives have been deeply disrupted by nearly a decade of catastrophic violence. More than 12 million people are displaced across the country or throughout the region as refugees. Much of the Syrian population lives in peril as conflict, insecurity and economic crises and the threats linked to COVID-19 persist. Today, the International Organization for Migration calls for increased funding that will allow humanitarian organizations to continue providing life-saving assistance and resiliency programming in Syria and the region in these unprecedented times. Furthermore, IOM stands with the UN to reiterate the necessity for parties to the conflict and member states to ensure UN life-saving assistance can be maintained and expanded from within Syria and across the borders in 2020 and beyond.