Gaziantep (Türkiye): The United Nations issued an urgent plea for global support today, warning that 16.5 million Syrians face life-threatening dangers from unexploded munitions, rampant disease, and severe malnutrition, nearly six months after the Assad regime’s overthrow in December 2024.
Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), speaking from Gaziantep, a humanitarian hub near Syria’s border, described a “momentum for change” in the war-torn nation but stressed that humanitarian needs remain “staggering” amid persistent insecurity, a collapsing health system, and critical funding shortages.
Wosornu noted an encouraging trend of returns since the regime’s fall. Over one million internally displaced persons have returned to their areas of origin, and more than 500,000 refugees have crossed back from neighbouring countries, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Yet, these returnees face immense challenges. Widespread insecurity, destroyed homes, inadequate basic services, limited livelihood opportunities, and the constant threat of unexploded ordnance hinder their ability to resettle safely. “People say, first and foremost, they want security,” Wosornu told reporters in Gaziantep. While overall hostilities have decreased, localised tensions and clashes continue to pose a major concern across the country.
The remnants of Syria’s brutal conflict remain deadly. Dr. Altaf Musani, Director of Health Emergencies at the World Health Organization, reported that unexploded ordnance has caused at least 909 casualties since December 2024, including 400 deaths, with women and children comprising the majority. “We’re seeing increasing emergency room admissions,” Musani said. “Women and children, going about daily tasks—fetching water, gathering food, or rebuilding—are walking through agricultural lands, roads, and rivers where munitions lie hidden.” This ongoing threat is compounded by a worsening public health crisis. Cholera and acute watery diarrhoea are spreading rapidly, with 1,444 suspected cases and seven associated deaths recorded, particularly in displacement camps in Latakia and Aleppo. “When cholera takes hold in camps, it can spread like a brush fire, driving up morbidity and mortality,” Musani warned.
Malnutrition is another escalating crisis. Over 416,000 children under five are at risk of severe acute malnutrition, with more than half lacking access to treatment. “From a public health standpoint, we must intervene to save these children,” Musani urged. Syria’s health system, which he described as the “heartbeat of the nation,” is in tatters. Since September 2024, half of northwest Syria’s maternity hospitals have suspended operations due to severe financial cuts, a trend Musani linked to global humanitarian funding shortages that are particularly acute in Syria. The war has driven 50 to 70 per cent of the health workforce to seek opportunities abroad, leaving facilities critically understaffed. Sanctions imposed during the Assad era further crippled the system, blocking upgrades to essential equipment like MRI machines, CT scanners, laboratory tools, and software, leaving health facilities ill-equipped to address the growing needs.
Funding shortages threaten to derail the humanitarian response. Ramesh Rajasingham, head of OCHA’s Coordination Division, told the UN Security Council earlier this week that only 10 per cent of the $2 billion required to assist eight million of Syria’s most vulnerable people from January to June 2025 has been secured. This underfunding exacerbates the strain on cash-strapped health facilities, which lack skilled workers and modern equipment, jeopardising the delivery of critical services. Recent moves by the United States and the European Union to lift sanctions imposed during the Assad regime offer a glimmer of hope. Wosornu expressed cautious optimism that this could improve the flow of goods and services, reduce operational costs, and expedite aid delivery. “We’ll see the impact on the cost of doing operations, on the ability to move goods quicker into the country,” she said, but cautioned, “It will take time.” She added, “I believe the people of Syria are hopeful this will change their everyday lives.”
Despite these daunting challenges, Syrians demonstrate remarkable resilience in their efforts to rebuild their lives and communities. Wosornu noted their determination to move forward, even as they navigate a landscape fraught with dangers and uncertainties. The UN’s urgent call for increased funding and international support aims to bolster these efforts, addressing the intertwined crises of insecurity, health emergencies, and hunger. Without swift global action, the “momentum for change” risks faltering, leaving millions vulnerable to Syria’s ongoing perils.
– global bihari bureau
