We are witnessing historic and momentous changes in Syria and the situation is rapidly evolving.
This is a moment of hope and uncertainty for many people, and Islamic Relief remains committed to stand alongside the Syrian people and help build a peaceful and prosperous future.
Islamic Relief aid workers are on the ground in Damascus, Aleppo, Hama, Homs and elsewhere, assessing and responding to the huge immediate needs, and we are launching a R228 million appeal for funds to expand our work. Right now we are distributing food, providing flour to keep bakeries operational, and supporting health facilities to respond to trauma cases and keep blood banks and dialysis services functioning.
An Islamic Relief staff member who is now in Damascus and has been carrying out assessments at health facilities throughout the country says many services face imminent collapse:
“People are happy and hopeful but are still fearful of what happens next.
“Everywhere you go, basic government services have collapsed as employees have fled or abandoned their posts. Health facilities especially need urgent support. In Homs I visited a hospital with machinery all still running but completely empty of people, as all the employees and patients had fled. It was like a scene from a movie set. In Idlib hospitals are full of wounded casualties and medics are overwhelmed. I saw many hospitals badly damaged, especially in Hama and Damascus.
“In Damascus there are displaced families roaming the streets, and countless families searching for their loved ones who they haven’t seen for many years. The collapse of services is affecting everything. There are growing shortages of bread and fuel, and frequent internet cuts makes it hard for people to communicate.”
The process of building a new state must be led by the Syrian people, but the needs are enormous and they will need support from the international community.
Millions of people all over Syria desperately need humanitarian aid and long-term support. Almost 14 years of horrific crisis has shattered the country, displacing millions of people, devastating the economy and destroying critical infrastructure such as hospitals and schools. More than 90% of people are now in desperate poverty, with many families unable to find or afford food. Years of brutal violence has killed countless people and torn families apart. An entire generation of children and youth are traumatised and have experienced unimaginable loss. Over the past few days, hundreds of thousands more people have been displaced by the fighting.
Yet just weeks from the end of the year, the 2024 humanitarian response plan for Syria has a pitiful 31% of the funding it needs. Reconstruction of core services like healthcare, education and energy will cost billions more dollars. We urge authorities and international donors to ensure that reconstruction efforts are driven by the priorities of local communities.
Islamic Relief has supported people in Syria throughout the crisis and we will continue to do so. As the situation continues to evolve over the coming days and weeks, we call for all civilians to be protected and for international humanitarian law to be upheld. Humanitarian organisations must be able to safely and impartially reach people in need, and displaced people must be able to choose when and whether to return. Syria’s territorial integrity must be respected. We hope and pray for an orderly political transition.