Syria crisis: Returning to ruin and rubble

The 15th of March marked 14 years since the crisis in Syria began; 14 years since what began as peaceful demonstrations, escalated into a country-wide conflict that forced millions of Syrian families to flee their homes.

It has been a crisis characterised by its longevity and its complexity, with no frontline to the fighting and multiple international parties involved.

The impact on the people of Syria has been monumental.

Over the past 14 years, more than 500,000 people have been killed, while entire villages, towns and cities lie in ruins. Over 130,000 people have been detained, abducted, or gone missing in Syria since 2011.

Basic services such as electricity, water, and healthcare are either limited or non-existent. For tens of thousands of people, there are simply no livelihoods to be had.

The conflict has transformed Syria into one of the world’s largest displacement crises. There are now more than 7.4 million internally displaced within Syria, while another 6.2 million are abroad, taking refuge in neighbouring countries.

This year is different, however. For the first time in since 2011, displaced Syrians have been offered a glimmer of hope after the historic change of government in December 2024.

Now, a growing number of Syrians are planning to return home. As of 5 February, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that 270,000 Syrians have returned to Syria since 8 December 2024.

But what exactly are Syrians returning home to?

While the change of authorities has offered hope of a new dawn for the country, the situation in Syria remains dire – much of the country has been destroyed or damaged by the long-running conflict.

Supporting the huge influx of returnees is complicated. Villages and towns lie in ruins, basic services such as electricity, water, and healthcare are either limited or non-existent – the livelihoods of thousands hang by a thread.

Destruction like nowhere else

Idlib governate, in the north-west of Syria, had been the focus of heavy bombing throughout much of the conflict. Many of the towns and cities across the region are now scarcely recognisable.

Adnan is a 52-year-old father of 4, from the town of Saraqib in Idlib governorate, the location of a violent battle that took place in 2012, something the city has never recovered from.

“The war in Syria over the past 14 years has affected all of Syria, especially the city of Saraqib and its people,” Adnan tells us.

“The destruction in the city is unlike any other city. One of the hardest moments I lived through was when I stayed for 7 years unable to enter the city or stroll through its markets due to heavy airstrikes on it.

“There was a whole month of Ramadan when the city was bombarded with barrel bombs every day at iftar and suhoor.”

Throughout 2024, the sharp escalation of violence, which included the deliberate targeting of hospitals, caused severe disruption to essential services across Idlib governorate. Hundreds of buildings across the city have been destroyed.

Compounding issues, there have also been reports of looting and vandalism in Saraqib.

“It has turned into a ghost town,” Adnan says.

“The situation in the city is very bad, as you can see, there is destruction in every neighbourhood.

“The people of Saraqib rely on agriculture as their main source of income, but today we cannot go to the fields because there are landmines; we cannot enter them.

“We are even lacking bread, water, and electricity; there are no basic essentials for life.”

On the back of 14 years of conflict, economic hardship, restrictive policies, and rising social tensions, more Syrians like Adnan are being pushed into poverty and aid dependency. The country is grappling with a prolonged economic crisis, and with limited funding and continued instability in the region, many returnees face an uncertain future.

Destroyed and looted

In the town of Al-Lataminah in Hama governorate, the situation is similar.

Mohammed was displaced from Al-Lataminah and returned to find his home in ruins.

“My house suffered severe damage and is in need of comprehensive repairs, including electricity, water, and sanitation networks,” Mohammed says.

“Everything inside the house was completely looted, and it now requires major repairs to become habitable again. Most of the houses in the town are similar to mine; they are either completely destroyed or have been looted, leaving the residents living in extremely difficult conditions.”

The damage to infrastructure across Syria is severe, with the health sector in particular on the brink of collapse, potentially leaving thousands without care. The health sector is severely strained and over half of the country’s hospitals are non-functional. Hundreds of health facilities across the country have been forced to close.

“There are no schools, hospitals, or health centres nearby, and even the 1 school that was there is not sufficient to meet the needs of the residents.” Mohammed says.

“For treatment, we had to travel to the town of Morek, about 10 kilometres away, which places a huge burden on us. Treatment is mostly expensive because it is private and not free, making healthcare out of reach for many residents.”

The main conflict may be over, but the crisis in Syria continues and the needs of the Syrian people continues to grow – more than 16.7 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.

The combined effects of continued hostilities and unaddressed explosive ordnance (UXO) contamination, climate and environmental impacts, and most recently the uncertainty around governance in the country, are just a few of the challenges currently facing Syria.

Islamic Relief is helping

Islamic Relief has been supporting the people of Syria since 2011. We are one of the largest humanitarian organisations still operating in Syria, while also providing support in neighbouring countries, where many Syrian refugees rely on our assistance.

We are working with fellow humanitarian actors and important stakeholders in Syria to expand our operations and assist in this crucial phase for the country.

Our future projects will focus on helping rebuild Syria; including improving temporary shelters for internally displaced people, assisting returnees returning to their hometowns and assisting with the reopening of hospitals and health facilities in the major cities of Syria including Aleppo, Homs, Hama and Damascus.

The scale of need in Syria is enormous, but hope remains for the future.

Abdul is 13 years old, all he has known during his short life has been conflict and displacement. Originally from Al-Lataminah, he was displaced to the internally displaced persons camps in the north but has now been able to return home with his grandparents.

Despite the ruins and rubble that surround him, Abdul feels hopeful for the future, and hopeful for Syria.

“I cannot express my feelings; I feel overwhelming joy. The people of the villages have started returning, and the land is returning to its people.”

The process of building a new state must be led by the Syrian people, but the scale of need in Syria is immense, requiring substantial international support. Islamic Relief is preparing to support much-needed reconstruction and recovery efforts.

With your support, we will continue to assist the people of Syria as they begin the painstaking task of rebuilding their shattered lives and communities: please donate generously today.