One year after Syria’s political transition on 8 December 2024, the country faces a fragile and uncertain path. While violence has decreased and over one million Syrians have returned to their homes, the scale of humanitarian need remains immense. Families are attempting to rebuild in towns scarred by conflict, yet essential services such as water, healthcare, and education operate at only 40-50% of pre-conflict capacity. With 7.4 million people still internally displaced, communities are struggling to accommodate returns while addressing basic needs.
Humanitarian challenges in Syria today are shaped less by active conflict and more by the long-term destruction of essential infrastructure. The World Bank estimates that rebuilding homes, schools, hospitals, water systems, and roads will cost around US $216 billion. As essential services remain degraded and reconstruction progresses slowly, families face unreliable water supply, overstretched clinics, and limited livelihood opportunities, perpetuating vulnerability even in relatively stable areas.
Explosive ordinance contamination represents a critical barrier to recovery. Mines and unexploded ordnance persist across farmland, homes, schools, and roads, with over 650 incidents recorded in the past year, many affecting children. This contamination blocks reconstruction, slows agricultural and school recovery, and restricts safe returns, making clearance a necessary precondition for meaningful recovery efforts.
The rapid return of over one million people since late 2024 has intensified pressure on already weakened systems. In many areas, the influx of returning families exceeds the capacity of water, health, and education services, leaving communities struggling to meet basic needs. Limited electricity, medical care, safe water, and functioning schools further exacerbate the humanitarian challenge.
Economic decline continues to deepen vulnerability. With rising prices, damaged markets, and reduced employment opportunities, 90% of Syrians live in poverty, including 66% in severe poverty. Women-headed households and people with disabilities face heightened barriers, while food insecurity affects over 14.5 million people due to unsafe farmland, damaged irrigation, and price instability. Many rely on humanitarian assistance for survival.
Despite these challenges, local communities are driving early recovery efforts, repairing homes, replanting fields, restoring water points, and reopening schools with limited resources. However, these gains remain fragile, as recovery is outpacing support, and predictable, multi-year funding is essential to sustain progress.
Action For Humanity emphasizes the urgent need for coordinated, long-term investment. Priorities include explosive ordinance clearance, targeted multisector investment in high-return areas, predictable funding for essential public services, support for Syrian-led organizations, agricultural recovery, market revitalization, and integrated programming. With sustained, coordinated, and community-led efforts, Syria can rebuild and stabilize, but without continued investment, progress risks stalling and millions could remain trapped in prolonged crisis.
