-
UN Confirms Ongoing Suffering in Syria and Over 16 Million People in Need of Assistance
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdel Moula, confirmed that approximately 16.5 million people inside the country are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. He pointed out that there are 2.5 million returnees among internally displaced persons and refugees returning from abroad, many of whom suffer from destroyed homes and have had their lives significantly affected.
In a press conference today, Tuesday, just before concluding his mission during which he reviewed the UN’s work, priorities, and future plans, Abdel Moula explained that Syria still faces a continued displacement crisis, with over 6 million people living as internally displaced persons, in addition to more than 6 million refugees spread across various countries.
The UN official revealed that about 24 percent of housing in Syria has been damaged or destroyed over the past years, stressing that the funding provided to the UN to address this issue is "very limited." He noted that the 2025 humanitarian response plan has so far received only 14 percent of the total $3.2 billion required for implementation.
Abdel Moula also emphasized that UN agencies and partners are making significant efforts to rebuild hospitals, schools, and infrastructure, believing in the Syrian people’s capacity to move toward a better future based on development and decent living conditions.
He added that Syria has entered an early recovery and reconstruction phase, with the UN reactivating development programs and working with local authorities to identify humanitarian response priorities and develop detailed plans to mitigate the severity of the humanitarian crisis.
In conclusion, Abdel Moula expressed his gratitude to the Syrian government for its "closer and increasing" cooperation in supporting UN efforts. He assured that joint consultations are ongoing to discuss future plans and unite efforts to improve the situation of the Syrians.
