UNITED NATIONS, Jan 23 (IPS) – Thirteen years of conflict, an economic downturn and multiple earthquakes have left Syria facing a severe humanitarian crisis. Hostilities remain widespread across Syria, with provinces experiencing widespread civilian displacement and damage to critical infrastructure. With the change of government in December 2024, Syrian refugees began returning from neighboring countries. However, this return was marred by the large amount of unexploded ordnance, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties.
In December 2024, a series of offensive missions coordinated by Syrian rebels marked the end of the regime of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Afterwards, Syria’s transitional government led by Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir facilitated the transfer of power and he will serve as head of state until March 1, 2025.
According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the end of the Assad regime has led to hostilities across Syria, mainly concentrated in eastern Aleppo, al-Hasakah, Araqa, Quneitra and the area around the Tishrin Dam. . Between January 16 and 18, at least three civilians were killed and 14 wounded in heavy shelling in Menbij, Ain al-Arab and surrounding areas. The January 17 bombings damaged several civilian infrastructure, including shops, ambulances and medical centres.
As violence intensifies, the Tishreen Dam has been damaged and inoperable for the past six weeks, leaving 413,000 people in the Menbij and Ain Al Arab regions without water and electricity. Menbij National Hospital has also been deprived of medical equipment, ambulances and generators due to looting, making medical care increasingly difficult. Recovery efforts have been hampered by persistent unrest.
As security worsens and refugees emerge, Syria is in an economic emergency. The devaluation and inflation of the Syrian currency has left the majority of Syrians barely able to afford food and other necessities. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has described poverty in Syria as “almost universal”, with around 90% of Syrians being financially insecure.
Over the past two months, living conditions for the majority of Syrians have deteriorated significantly. The World Food Program (WFP) estimates that about 13 million people are suffering from extreme hunger. Additionally, the IRC estimates that more than 100,000 children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition.
636 shelters for displaced people have had water, sanitation and hygiene services cut off due to lack of funding, leaving an estimated 636,000 people without access to clean water. OCHA said the situation in northeastern Syria was particularly serious. 24,600 internally displaced people (IDPs) live in 204 group shelters in dire need of water, toilets, heat, winter clothing and mental health support.
Poor sanitary conditions and overcrowding in refugee shelters have led to a cholera outbreak in Syria. Disease outbreaks have been a persistent threat in Syria since the outbreak of hostilities, worsening significantly in late 2024. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are more than 200 confirmed cases of cholera in Syria.
WHO, in collaboration with UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and local health authorities, launched a 10-day oral cholera vaccination campaign in Syria and reached 100% vaccine uptake. But damaged water systems and inadequate sanitation infrastructure leave Syrians particularly vulnerable to future outbreaks. Humanitarian organizations such as UNICEF and WHO have launched winter break efforts to protect Syrians in refugee shelters from the spread of influenza-like illnesses.
According to the UNHCR’s 2025 situation overview, there are currently around 7.2 million internally displaced people in Syria and 6.2 million refugees, mainly based in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkiye and Jordan. . Additionally, migration rates have increased significantly since the regime change, with approximately 627,000 people, including 275,000 children, emigrating from across the country, particularly from Idlib and Aleppo.
According to a situation report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as of December 2024, there are more than 125,000 Syrian refugees who have returned from neighboring countries, and most of them are concentrated in the Aleppo, Arraka, and Daraa regions. pasha.
Returnees and Syrian refugees are particularly vulnerable to unexploded ordnance. According to UNICEF estimates, there are more than 300,000 landmines spread across the country. In December 2024 alone, there were at least 116 cases of children being killed or injured by unexploded ordnance, an average of about four per day. According to the humanitarian organization Humanity & Inclusion, about 14 million people are at risk of injury or death from explosives.
“Girls and boys in this country continue to bear the cruel effects of unexploded ordnance at an alarming rate. It is currently the leading cause of child casualties in Syria, has been and will continue to be so for many years. “Every step they take carries the risk of unimaginable tragedy.” said Ricardo Pires, UNICEF Emergency Communications Manager.
The United Nations and its partners remain on the front lines of this crisis to support vulnerable people in Syria as they navigate this transition. UNICEF’s 2025 Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) Appeal in Syria is seeking $488 million in funding to scale up the response. Only 11% of this funding has been secured so far.
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