For Syrians globally, it is unthinkable that the catastrophe in their country could be forgotten. For me (a British Syrian) and my family spread across the UK, US, Italy, and Germany, it is impossible to ignore the fact we are disconnected from a part of ourselves because of a man-made disaster. On the phone to my 90-year-old Nana, still living in Aleppo, showering me with virtual kisses, I am reminded of the incredible resilience of the Syrian people. But these moments are a bittersweet reminder that after 13 years, the country is only safe to visit through a phone screen. Despite having faced the siege of Aleppo, a sniper’s bullet through her window, an earthquake, and ongoing water and electricity shortages, my Nana is one of the lucky ones. She is alive.
Today in Syria 16.7 million people need humanitarian assistance, including 7.5 million children. 90% of the population lives in poverty, and 6.8 million people are internally displaced. People lack access to adequate food, water, and healthcare, leaving them vulnerable to preventable diseases including cholera and leishmaniasis (flesh eating disease). 2.4 million children have no school to go to, putting them at risk of child labour and marriage, keeping them trapped in the cycle of poverty.
This humanitarian catastrophe is the result of the conflict that started in 2011. It is ongoing but remains tragically absent from the UK media. In May alone, 254 people died in conflict related incidents. This includes 100 civilians killed by leftover explosives, indiscriminate gunfire and bombardments, targeted killings, and murders.
With so much atrocity in the world, it is understandable that the headlines flit elsewhere. Yet it leaves Syria slipping from the international agenda. According to the UN, Syria has received just 6% of the humanitarian funding it requires as of 15 May 2024. That’s $227 million out of $4.07 billion needed. Such devastating underfunding puts 160 health facilities, including 46 hospitals, at imminent risk of closure. In late 2023 the World Food Programme was forced to cease its general food assistance programme, affecting 3.2 million people.
The conflict in Syria is an arena for competing international interests. Following the escalation in Gaza last October, rivalry between Israel and Iran has intensified. Iran has consistently backed militias within Syria to support its allies, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime, with the aim of furthering its regional goals. As a result, Israel has launched several strikes into Syria to prevent Iran gaining an upper hand during its ongoing campaign in Gaza. Exchanges between the two countries risk catastrophic escalation, clearly felt in April, when an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus triggered an unprecedent attack by Iran. All the while, Syrians are caught in the crossfire of global power politics, with little hope of de-escalation.
Other international opportunists have taken advantage of the security vacuum in Syria, most notably ISIS. The group has carried out 264 attacks across the Syrian deserts since the start of 2024, killing 454 people, including 54 civilians. Any resurgence of the group risks a return to its brutal reign of terror and an international threat.
Furthermore, combatants in Syria are largely funded by the production and exportation of captagon, an addictive psychoactive drug that has flooded Middle Eastern markets. 80% of captagon is produced in Syria, fuelling international drug abuse, and ongoing violence.
The Syrian conflict clearly has global implications. As long as it continues, Syrians will be forced to flee in search of refuge. This exposes vulnerable people to exploitation by human traffickers and perilous journeys. It will fall on the international community to address the needs of these people, a challenge it has so far struggled to adequately meet. Ending the cycle of violence is only possible if the Syrian people are empowered to create a safer Syria.
The work of Action Syria is, therefore, just as important today as when it was founded 10 years ago. They, as do I, believe the only solution to such a multifaceted, long-lasting conflict is through sustained efforts to create long-term change. That’s why they work with closely trusted local organisations, using their expertise to provide aid where it is needed most. Syrians are not helpless victims, we are a diverse group of talented, hopeful, dynamic people whose agency has been squashed by over a decade of conflict. We don’t need or want pity, but sustainable livelihoods, and the opportunity to live a life of happiness and health.
Better access to education is vital. Of the 1.5 million refugees living in Lebanon, nearly half of school aged children are out of school. Action Syria is funding the education of 200 Syrian refugee children in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. Without this school, they would have no access to education. Attending school keeps them from being forced into work, marriage, or military recruitment. In short, it allows them to be children with a life of opportunity and hope ahead. Some of their 13 teachers are also survivors of the Syrian conflict and understand the traumas of conflict and displacement many of the children have experienced. Because of their work, 10-year-old Kefaa has been able to grow from a severely anxious child unable to leave her parents side into a dedicated, happy student. She is just one example of how education can change lives and I believe every child deserves the same.
Healthcare is essential for addressing the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Action Syria’s long-term partners, SAMS, have established a primary health clinic in Tel-Abiad in remote North-Eastern Syria to provide aid to the people who need it most. Last year it provided 33,449 people with medical services including reproductive healthcare, paediatric consultations, dental care, and disease treatments. Last year they also helped SAMS to establish a mobile health clinic, reaching some of the most vulnerable people who cannot afford to travel. It provides treatment for diarrhoea, and leishmaniasis, support for pregnant women, and has given over 4,800 consultations. Action Syria’s partner, PAC, has also done incredible work providing prosthetic limbs, alongside physiotherapy and psychological support to 95 amputees. It is estimated 86,000 Syrians have suffered injuries leading to amputations. This makes the prosthetics project vital in helping such people reclaim their confidence and return to a normal life.
While the international community forgets the humanitarian disaster in Syria, it is the inescapable daily reality for millions of people. They cannot ignore it and nor will we. The effects of this conflict reach far beyond its borders and must be addressed before the situation worsens. If you can, please donate to Action Syria and spread the word for a safer Syria and a safer world.
Saami Tajeddin
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