UN Warns Syria’s Humanitarian Crisis Remains Dire

A man sells vegetables on the streets of Idleb in Syria.

Nearly a year after the fall of Assad, millions of Syrians continue to live without basic necessities as the transitional government struggles to stabilise the economy and rebuild social cohesion.

Humanitarian conditions remain “extremely serious,” UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Najat Rochdi told the Security Council on Wednesday.

According to the UN humanitarian coordination office (OCHA), more than 16 million people are in need of assistance, with hundreds of thousands still displaced.

Ms Rochdi welcomed the removal of UN sanctions against President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab, but urged the lifting of remaining secondary sanctions on third parties conducting business with Syria.

“These are a key impediment to enabling reconstruction and reviving the devastated Syrian economy,” she said.

She also highlighted continued Israeli military incursions into Syria, calling them a “grave violation of Syria’s sovereignty and of international law,” and pressed for adherence to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, which established a buffer zone between Syrian and Israeli forces.

New social contract

Ms Rochdi noted that the first trial has begun following deadly attacks against the Alawite community in Latakia and Tartus in March, where more than 1,000 people were killed in clashes. She said the UN is watching with “real concern” reports of abductions and enforced disappearances.

She urged transparency and fair representation of all communities — including women — in the People’s Assembly, the new transitional legislative body, where one-third of the 210 seats are still awaiting presidential appointment.

Drafting a permanent constitution is a “foundational task” for the next stages of the political transition, she stressed, adding: “The act of defining a new social contract among Syrians must be a source of peace and unity.”

A ‘path forward’

Speaking on behalf of relief chief Tom Fletcher, OCHA financing and outreach director Lisa Doughten said the ceasefire in southern Syria is largely holding, although sporadic incidents persist.

Violent sectarian clashes recently erupted around Sweida between Druze militias and tribal fighters, reportedly fuelled by kidnappings and retaliatory attacks. More than 180,000 people remain displaced in the area and neighbouring governorates.

The UN continues to prioritise humanitarian support, working with national authorities and affected communities to deliver essential services. OCHA is reaching 357,000 people each month, sending more than 1,300 aid trucks and partnering with local organisations.

Ms Doughten urged sustained international engagement, funding and large-scale investment for reconstruction. “The people of Syria do not want to rely on emergency aid,” she said.

While reconstruction needs remain immense, she said recent steps — including eased sanctions and renewed investment interest — “provide a path forward.”