3.2. Humanitarian situation and assistance

Despite a cessation of hostilities in several areas of the country, humanitarian needs remained critical.598 In February 2025, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Mswaya said Syria was still struggling with a ‘massive humanitarian crisis’ affecting more than 70 % of its population.599 The lack of UN funding, which by April 2025 had covered less than 10 % of projected needs for the first half of the year, was estimated to cause the closure of half of UNHCR’s community centres (122) by June 2025 and a 30 % reduction in staff.600 In the northwest region, the freeze of US-funded activities affected the operativity of health facilities and caused the suspension of water and sanitation services in displacement camps.601 In May 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that all humanitarian organisations operating in Syria were required by the new authorities to reregister in order to continue their work. Aid workers described the new procedures as more complex than those under the Assad government, requiring the disclosure of operations and funding details and obstructing humanitarian access.602

According to UN sources, the number of People in Need (PiN) – an indicator reflecting both infrastructure damage and limited access to essential services - continued to rise across all humanitarian sectors affecting 16.7 million of people.603 Since 15 December 2024, severe liquidity shortage across the country has impacted the humanitarian programs, leading to suspensions of operations and significant delays.604