The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has welcomed the formal approval from Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates to re-establish its official presence in the country and expand humanitarian operations nationwide. This move signals a renewed commitment by Syrian authorities to closely partner with IOM to strengthen coordination and enhance the impact and sustainability of humanitarian efforts.
IOM Director General Amy Pope expressed gratitude for the endorsement, highlighting the opportunity to work collaboratively with national counterparts to respond to urgent humanitarian needs and support long-term recovery. The decision is seen as a gateway for scaling up assistance to people and communities affected by conflict, displacement, and climate-related crises.
Syria remains deeply affected by a 14-year-long conflict, with over 13 million people still in need of humanitarian aid, including 6.8 million internally displaced individuals. Basic services such as healthcare, education, clean water, and livelihoods remain out of reach for many, while the country’s infrastructure suffers from extensive damage. These challenges are further intensified by economic decline and environmental shocks.
Since 2014, IOM has been actively providing life-saving aid in northwest Syria. The recent approval from the Syrian government will now allow IOM to resume operations across the entire country, facilitating a more comprehensive and coordinated humanitarian response aligned with national priorities.
Beyond immediate aid, IOM intends to expand its focus on key strategic areas. These include improving migration governance, combating human trafficking, and engaging the Syrian diaspora in recovery initiatives. The organization also plans to enhance its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) to provide reliable data on population movements and needs—vital for planning and targeted aid delivery.
Despite growing stability in some areas, parts of Syria still face insecurity, impacting the safety and livelihoods of civilians. Nonetheless, a growing number of Syrians have shown interest in returning home. IOM aims to ensure that these returns are safe, voluntary, informed, and dignified. It will work closely with authorities to provide tailored support to both returnees and host communities, helping to restore services, rebuild infrastructure, and foster social cohesion.
Finally, IOM has called on the international community to reinforce its support for Syria’s recovery. A principled and inclusive approach, backed by sustained donor involvement, is essential to help Syrians rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and renewed hope.
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