Save the Children has opened its first national office in Syria, marking a major shift after 13 years of being managed from neighbouring countries. The organisation now operates exclusively from within Syria through hubs in Damascus, Aleppo, Raqqa, and Qamishli, employing more than 1,050 staff—96% of whom are Syrian nationals. This move places decision-making and accountability directly in Syrian hands at a time when three in every four children in the country are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
The opening of the office comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis, with nearly 17 million people—including 7.5 million children—requiring aid. Millions remain displaced, and the education sector is in deep crisis, with 2.4 million children out of school and another 1.6 million at risk of dropping out. Healthcare infrastructure is also severely damaged, with nearly half of hospitals and clinics non-functional, while 650,000 children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition.
Speaking at the launch, Save the Children’s Chief Operating Officer, Gabriella Waaijman, highlighted the extraordinary resilience of Syrian children who have endured years of war, displacement, a pandemic, and even a devastating earthquake, yet continue to show an unyielding desire for peace and safety.
The organisation is working alongside more than 20 Syrian civil society partners and closely with the Interim Authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic to rehabilitate schools, restore healthcare services, and support family livelihoods. Operating from inside Syria reduces the costs of cross-border deliveries, allows for real-time monitoring, and enables the scale-up of vital programmes, including nutrition services, school rehabilitation, explosive ordnance clearance, and livelihoods support that helps families avoid harmful coping strategies such as child labour or early marriage.
Save the Children’s Country Director in Syria, Bujar Hoxha, described the move as a milestone, praising the courage and professionalism of Syrian staff. However, he stressed that the mission is far from over, underscoring the need for every child in Syria to live in safety and have access to education and hope for the future.
Since 2012, Save the Children has reached nearly 12 million people in Syria, including 5.9 million children, through programmes in education, health, nutrition, child protection, food security, and water services. The organisation is calling on donor governments to close the funding gap in the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan, urging flexible, multi-year support, and appealing to both the private sector and individual supporters to help scale up Syrian-led efforts that can translate proximity into lives saved.
