Syria's Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amidst Widespread Needs and Funding Shortfalls

Escalating Humanitarian Needs Across Syria

The Syrian Arab Republic continues to grapple with a profound humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 16.5 million people requiring assistance as of November 2025. This figure represents a sustained high level of need, driven by over a decade of conflict, economic collapse, and the compounding effects of climate change and natural disasters. The crisis has resulted in widespread displacement, with 7.4 million individuals internally displaced within the country.

Despite ongoing humanitarian efforts, the situation remains critical, particularly following recent political shifts and continued hostilities in various regions. The United Nations' 2024 appeal for $4.07 billion to fund its response was only 26.2% funded as of September 2024, highlighting a significant gap in resources. The 2025 Humanitarian Response Priorities document also faces severe underfunding, with only 15.9% of its $1.68 billion requirements met.

Critical Challenges in Water and Sanitation

The water sector in Syria is facing an acute crisis, severely impacting public health and daily life. Years of civil war have left approximately two-thirds of water facilities severely damaged or destroyed, including treatment plants and pumping stations. In rural areas, 40% of water systems are non-functional, contributing to deepening water shortages across the country, particularly in northeastern Syria.

Specific challenges include:

• Over 80% of water supply systems in North-East Syria are non-functional, affecting 1.8 million people.
• 13.6 million people require access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services.
• Contaminated lands and a surge in waterborne diseases, such as cholera, continue to plague the population.
• Aid cuts have exacerbated the water and sanitation crisis in hundreds of internal displacement camps in northwestern Syria.

Health and Education Sectors Under Immense Strain

Syria's health system is severely weakened, with millions facing shortages of essential healthcare. As of March 2025, 15.9 million people are in need of health services. The World Health Organization (WHO) appealed for $141.5 million for 2025, but only 20% of this appeal has been funded. This shortfall has led to dire consequences:

• 417 health facilities were affected by cuts in 2024, with 366 reducing or suspending services, resulting in 7.4 million people losing access to treatment or medicine.
• Only 58% of hospitals and 23% of primary health centers remain fully operational.
• Between January 2024 and February 2025, 88 attacks on healthcare facilities were reported, causing 135 injuries and 23 deaths.

The education sector is equally devastated, threatening a 'lost generation' of Syrian children. An estimated 2.4 million children are out-of-school, and another 1.6 million are at risk of dropping out. Approximately 25% of children are not attending school. Over 5,200 schools are damaged and require urgent rehabilitation. The use of 133 schools as emergency collective centers has further disrupted schooling for 230,000 children.

Ongoing Challenges and International Response

The humanitarian situation is further complicated by the pervasive threat of explosive ordnance, which has become a daily reality. Since December 2024, over 1,000 casualties have been reported due to explosive remnants of war, with children accounting for nearly one-third of the victims. Economic collapse continues to drive negative coping mechanisms, including a sharp rise in child labor, as average family incomes struggle to cover basic needs.

While over 1.9 million internally displaced persons have returned to their places of origin since late November 2024, and more than 1.2 million refugees have returned from neighboring countries, these individuals often face significant challenges in re-establishing their lives, including food shortages, damaged homes, and lack of income opportunities. The international community continues to call for sustained support and increased funding to address the multifaceted and deepening crisis in Syria.