By Anjali Sharma=
UNITED NATIONS- UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Monday that 14 years of civil war have left Syrian people in desperate need but international support is dwindling, as he called for urgent investment in the recovery of Syria.
He underlined the gravity of the situation in a video message to the conference Standing with Syria: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition, organized by the European Union in Brussels.
Guterres said “This is a watershed moment,” stressed that the future of Syria depends on ensuring access to food, shelter, healthcare and sustainable livelihoods.
He noted that over two-thirds of the population requires humanitarian assistance. The critical aid efforts are in jeopardy due to severe underfunding.
The $1.25 billion UN-coordinated humanitarian response for the country is only 12.5 percent funded, with vital sectors such as shelter, non-food relief, water and sanitation and agriculture and nutrition suffering from lack of resources, he noted.
Mr. Guterres underscored the need for support from the international community.
He said that donors must urgently expand humanitarian support and reconsider funding cuts.
They must also invest in Syria’s recovery including addressing sanctions and other restrictions – alongside helping an orderly and inclusive political transition.
He added “Let us work together to help the people of Syria as they take these momentous next steps in their journey towards a free, prosperous and peaceful future,”.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher reinforced Mr. Guterres call for action, warned that humanitarian operations face a severe funding gap.
“The people of Syria do not need us to be commentators and problem observers they need us to move with urgency,” he said.
He said that despite these challenges, the UN has expanded its reach, delivering aid to millions, including areas inaccessible due to conflict.
OCHA reported that more humanitarian convoys have entered Syria from Türkiye this year than in all of 2024, and assistance is now reaching former frontline areas in rural Idlib, Latakia and Aleppo.
The ongoing funding cuts threaten these gains, with essential services at risk of collapse, it added.
He warned “After so long waiting for hope, the people of Syria…expect us to meet this moment with decisive action, with generosity and with solidarity. The price of failure will be much greater for all of us than the cost of success,”.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi highlighted a significant shift the return of Syrian refugees.
Over 1 million displaced Syrians have returned home since the fall of Assad regime, including 350,000 from neighboring countries.
Surveys suggested that up to 3.5 million more could return in the coming months.
Mr. Grandi cautioned that without adequate support, these returns may not be sustainable.
“If we fail to help them stay in Syria, make no mistake: the impact will be disastrous,” he said.
He warned that refugees unable to rebuild their lives may be forced to leave again.
Grandi stressed that within Syria, the humanitarian crisis remains acute, especially for women and girls.
Shoko Arakaki, Humanitarian Director at the UN Population Fund highlighted the devastating impact of war on Syria’s healthcare system, with four in ten hospitals damaged or destroyed.
The lack of resources have complicated the situation and recent funding cuts have forced the closure of over 100 UN-supported health facilities in northwest Syria.
She warned that gender-based violence has become “normalized” after years of conflict, but financial constraints may force UNFPA to withdraw support for protection efforts such as safe spaces for women.
“Women and youth in Syria still need our support,” she stressed, urging donors to invest in healthcare, protection, livelihoods and education.
“These are deeply uncertain times for Syria,” she said, adding that in the midst of apprehension, she sensed a feeling of hope.
She noted her meetings with “extraordinary women” providing lifesaving reproductive health services, protecting survivors of violence, offering vocational training – even while they themselves are vulnerable.
“[I felt] hope in the Syrian people who are defying the odds to help each other, despite immense hardship,” she added.
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