Despite the efforts of states and international organizations, Islamic State terrorist group remains viable and adjusts to new conditions. Syria is at particular risk, as its instability is facilitating the spread of the terrorist threat. This was stated by Vladimir Voronkov, head of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, at a Security Council meeting on Monday.

"The terrorist landscape is changing and requires collective, multilateral action, as terrorist attacks threaten the lives, well-being, and rights and freedoms of people," Voronkov said.

Syria, Afghanistan, Africa: Epicenters of the Terrorist Threat

According to the UN, the Syrian Badia region remains key to the external planning of ISIS (Daesh) operations. There are about 42,500 people held in camps and detention facilities in northeastern Syria, some of whom allegedly have ties to the group. The rate of repatriation of these people has recently slowed.

In Afghanistan, the ISIS branch is expanding its activities, planning attacks not only in the region but also in Europe, and recruiting new members fr om Central Asian countries. “I would like to recall the Secretary-General’s call on all Member States to unite and prevent Afghanistan from becoming a hotbed of terrorist activity again,” Voronkov emphasized.

The influence of terrorist organizations is also growing on the African continent, especially in West Africa and the Sahel, wh ere terrorists, in particular, attack schools and actively recruit new fighters.

UN priorities: Security, Technology and Repatriation

The UN is increasing technical support to African countries: over the past year, the volume of assistance has increased by 16 per cent. In Morocco, analysts are being trained, and a program to protect infrastructure is being implemented in five African countries.

In northeastern Syria, the UN is facilitating the prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration of former militants. In Iraq, the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism is providing advice and training to assist with the registration and screening of adults seeking to repatriate from the al-Hawl camp in Syria.

In Central Asia, the Office, in cooperation with the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), supported the second meeting of the Regional Expert Council on the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees.

“It is important to remember that many people who are currently in camps in Syria and Iraq actually fled the violence of Daesh. It is therefore vital that we continue to highlight the voices of victims of terrorism and ensure that they receive support,” Voronkov said.

He also stressed the need to strengthen border security to hinder the movements of terrorists. Last November, the Office of Counter-Terrorism, in partnership with Kuwait and Tajikistan, organized a high-level conference on strengthening international cooperation and creating flexible border security mechanisms as part of the Dushanbe Process.

Terrorist Financing

Natalia Gherman, Head of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate of the Security Council, in turn, pointed to the lack of measures to counter financing of terrorism.

The committee's experts have recorded an increase in the use of modern financial technologies by terrorists. Regional money laundering hubs are expanding, Gherman noted, allowing groups to effectively finance their operations and recruit new members.

In this regard, last month the Counter-Terrorism Committee adopted the "Algiers Guidelines" for preventing and detecting the use of new financial instruments for terrorist purposes.

The UN is also implementing projects to improve the stability of national financial systems. In particular, the first successful trial on the financing of terrorism was recently held in Mozambique.

"Terrorism remains a serious and evolving threat to global peace and security that no state can counter alone," Voronkov said. He called for multilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism.