One year after the collapse of the Assad-led government, Syria faces a critical juncture. While new opportunities and hope are emerging, the country continues to bear the deep scars of 14 years of conflict. Humanitarian needs remain vast, with 16.5 million Syrians requiring assistance and millions displaced both internally and externally. Although the humanitarian response has improved, funding is declining, underscoring the need for coordinated, sustained action. For lasting stability, lessons learned from past crises must form the foundation for inclusive safety, prosperity, and recovery.
Syria remains a protection crisis, with public services devastated, governance structures fractured, the social fabric eroded, and the economy collapsed. Displaced populations face difficult choices about whether to return, and such decisions must be voluntary and informed, reflecting individual circumstances rather than external pressure. Premature or coerced returns could overwhelm fragile infrastructure and aid systems, placing returning families at significant risk. Regional realities vary and are evolving rapidly, further complicating organized return efforts.
Protection must remain central to the humanitarian response, enabling Syrians to rebuild their lives while reducing vulnerability to exploitation and exclusion. Economic recovery is critical to strengthening community resilience, particularly for women and youth. Urgent priorities include clearing explosive remnants of war, supporting victims, and restoring social cohesion. Addressing underlying social tensions, preventing renewed displacement, and advancing transitional justice are also essential for long-term stability. Syrian communities show determination and capacity to shape a brighter future, which the international community must support through safe spaces, economic recovery programs, and access to opportunities.
Refugee protection remains vital, with host countries urged not to impose premature returns. Policies affecting displaced populations should align with international law, prioritizing the needs, choices, and voices of those affected, rather than political or external pressures. Strengthening Syrian civil society organizations is key to enabling local leadership in recovery, promoting dialogue among actors, and engaging effectively with transitional authorities while safeguarding civic space. Capacity building for both civil society and national authorities is critical for delivering on localization commitments and ensuring sustainable impact.
As Syria undergoes ongoing transitions, its people must remain at the center of the response. Ensuring access to assistance, advancing rights, fostering participation, and elevating the voices of affected communities are essential. Syrian civil society and local communities must drive recovery and reconstruction efforts, with dignity, agency, equal partnerships, and meaningful participation serving as the cornerstones for a sustainable and inclusive future.
