The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a stark warning, urging the international community to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action to support millions of vulnerable returnees in Syria. Many families face dire living conditions, with limited shelter and economic prospects, as the country grapples with the aftermath of 14 years of war.
“In recent weeks, there has been talk in high-level international circles of the need for ‘early recovery’ and ‘rebuilding,’” said Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, UNHCR Representative in Syria. “But until we move from words to action, for many returnees…their new life in Syria will unfortunately mean sleeping surrounded by plastic sheeting.”
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The end of Syria’s protracted conflict on December 8, marked by a military takeover in Damascus involving Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), has brought the sheer scale of destruction into sharp focus. Nearly 500,000 internally displaced people returned to northwest Syria by the end of 2024, joining a growing population of returnees facing inadequate housing and resources.
Before the fall of the Assad regime, Syria counted 7.4 million internally displaced people, with 2.3 million living in camps. In total, 16.7 million Syrians relied on humanitarian assistance, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Winter Relief Urgently Needed
As temperatures plummet, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched a $73.2 million appeal to provide winter relief for more than 1.1 million displaced and returning Syrians over the next six months. This is a significant increase from the $30 million appeal issued in December 2024.
“This effort aims to provide immediate assistance to the most at-risk and vulnerable communities,” IOM said in a statement. The funds will support relief items, shelter, sanitation, health services, and early recovery programs for those in need.
Since December, IOM has assisted over 80,000 people with winter relief items and delivered emergency water and sanitation services to 170,000 individuals.
Infrastructure in Ruins
OCHA reports that restoring basic services like water and electricity remains a monumental challenge. The Tishreen Dam in Aleppo, damaged during recent conflict, is still non-operational, leaving over 410,000 people in Menbij and Kobani without regular water and power.
Ongoing hostilities in parts of Aleppo governorate are also causing civilian casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to aid efforts.
Health Crisis Escalates
The health sector in Syria faces a critical shortfall. Many facilities remain closed due to damage or lack of funding, particularly in the northwest. Mobile medical units in the northeast are also struggling due to shortages of health workers and supplies.
Influenza-like illnesses are rising across the country, while released detainees are at heightened risk of pneumonia, tuberculosis, and malnutrition due to pre-existing poor health conditions.
International Discussions Underway
In response to the unfolding crisis, foreign ministers from Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, are set to meet in Rome on Thursday to discuss Syria’s future.
As the humanitarian situation in Syria worsens, UN agencies continue to emphasize the urgent need for international action to support displaced populations and rebuild basic infrastructure. The world is watching, but for millions of Syrians, action cannot come soon enough.
