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Volunteers in Sudan: Groups Fighting War Challenges

volunteers in sudanAfter the battle began in April 2023, the current state of affairs in Sudan witnessed rising levels of violence and humanitarian crises. Millions of people have fled their homes as a result of clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces; 2.1 million people are refugees worldwide, while 11 million faced displacement within Sudan.

The nearly two-year struggle between the Sudanese army and the rebel-turned-paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has had a particularly negative impact on women and children. War criminals often utilize sexual abuse as a weapon of war, while essential health facilities in conflict zones do not exist anymore.

However, as part of a larger community response to the worst humanitarian crisis in history, committed, women-led mutual assistance organizations have been established to provide psychological, medical, and economic help to many individuals in need. Sennar Women’s Association began its work by helping women and girls who RSF displaced. The organization’s main goals are to give pregnant women vitamins, sanitary supplies, and first aid to victims of sexual assault.

Sennar Women’s Association

The groups of women volunteers in Sudan, alongside women’s reaction rooms, are an important component of the larger emergency response rooms, which are youth-led and neighborhood-based solidarity networks, according to The New Humanitarian. These networks, which currently number several hundred nationwide, are based on Sudan’s rich history of social cooperation. Thousands of volunteers run them, preparing meals every day and maintaining utilities like water and electricity.

Since international relief organizations have not been able to regularly reach war areas, mutual aid has been extremely important in Sudan. This is even though the war has caused the greatest food crisis in history, with famine found in at least five locations and the largest displacement disaster in history, according to The New Humanitarian.

Challenges

In an interview with The New Humanitarian, volunteers in Sudan claimed that the organizations provide a lifeline for a large number of women and girls, claiming that the international assistance response has particularly overlooked their needs. According to them, the clubs also provide a network of support to help members deal with the battle.

However, according to the volunteers, they encounter an overwhelming variety of difficulties, including sexual assault by RSF soldiers and restrictions by army-affiliated officials on their access to displacement camps, where women are sometimes most in need. Volunteers reported that they do not have sufficient funding either. Although their organizations receive some financial assistance from foreign donors, it is a small portion of what the U.N. and foreign NGOs receive, despite their relatively limited access.

Unpaid volunteers frequently burn out, and communal kitchens frequently close due to the minimal funding that Sudanese benefactors and diaspora groups provide to mutual assistance organizations, according to The New Humanitarian.

How They Help

The women’s response rooms have found time to create and run educational and recreational facilities for children who do not go to scohol, even though a large portion of their work focuses on emergency, according to The New Humanitarian.

While some volunteers in Sudan reported operating literacy, numeracy and art-focused programs and safe spaces, others stated their centers have shut down due to a lack of long-term funding for teacher salaries and school supplies. Additionally, volunteers talked about managing economic empowerment initiatives that involve skill-training courses and the encouragement of small cooperatives involved in regional crafts like handicrafts and soap production.

The communal organizing has positively surprised several volunteers in Sudan, and they have stated that they would like to use it as a launching pad for future feminist activity after the war is over, highlighting how important the work of organizations is during the challenging periods of wartime.

– Taylor Naquin

Taylor is based in Gilbert, AZ, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 Organizations Fighting Systemic Poverty in Colombia

Poverty in ColombiaColombia, a South American country, has a long history of political tensions and armed conflict, both within its borders and in neighboring Venezuela. Systemic poverty in Colombia has left approximately 18.3 million people living below the poverty line. Multiple factors contribute to this persistent issue, including unequal access to opportunities and a lack of quality public services. These inequalities create dire consequences, with more than 85% of child deaths in certain municipalities being preventable with adequate care, reflecting unequal access to essential services. While the causes of systemic poverty in Colombia are widespread and complex, several organizations are addressing the issue through various targeted approaches.

5 Organizations Fighting Systemic Poverty in Colombia

  • ActionAid U.K. ActionAid U.K. has been working in Colombia since 2020 through a partnership with a local organization. Its work primarily focuses on protecting women’s rights and ensuring their safety, as 30% of women in Colombia have experienced violence from a partner. The organization also aims to address the disparity in opportunities and quality of life between rural and urban areas. To combat the effects of systemic poverty in Colombia, ActionAid U.K. engages in advocacy, promotes sustainable local development, improves water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and protects women and children from sexual and gender-based violence. The organization supports displaced individuals and unemployed victims of violence, offering them resources and opportunities to rebuild their lives.
  • Opportunity International Colombia. Opportunity International Colombia supports people affected by the region’s long-standing conflict. An estimated 7.7 million Colombians have been displaced due to conflict, along with many Venezuelans who have sought refuge in Colombia. The organization provides access to loans and training to help individuals build sustainable businesses. With 55% of adults lacking a formal bank account, rural families remain the least likely to have access to financial services. The organization addresses this gap by offering financial services that empower marginalized communities. Additionally, the organization works to improve education through its EduFinance program, helping children from low-income families access quality education. Through these ongoing efforts, Opportunity International Colombia has played a critical role in improving economic resilience and financial literacy.
  • Tearfund. Tearfund has been working in Colombia since 1980, focusing on poverty caused by migration and conflict. The organization aids families at risk of malnutrition and mobilizes local churches and community groups to provide support. As a result of its advocacy efforts, 24,000 stateless children have now been granted citizenship in Colombia. Tearfund reduces discrimination against violence-affected families and assists with their transition to stability. Community kitchens, food baskets and food vouchers provide thousands of Venezuelan families with improved nutrition and better access to health care services. Tearfund’s commitment to addressing the root causes of poverty has led to tangible improvements in the lives of displaced families.
  • CAFOD. Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) has been working in Colombia for more than 50 years. The organization focuses on supporting victims of conflict and marginalized communities. The organization ensures that those living in extreme poverty can potentially earn an income to support their families sustainably. CAFOD partners with local organizations to address a variety of critical areas, including peacebuilding, human rights protection, gender-based violence and the long-term effects of armed crises. By targeting these key areas, CAFOD improves food security and provides communities with the tools they need to rebuild their lives. Its work not only addresses immediate needs but also supports long-term development and stability.
  • Habitat for Humanity GB. Habitat for Humanity GB works to improve housing and informal settlements in Colombia. Through holistic programs that focus on neighborhood and home improvement, the organization enhances living conditions for impoverished families. Habitat for Humanity GB has worked with 1,440 volunteers and has served 730 people through home repairs. Its work involves constructing houses and improving the infrastructure of informal settlements, promoting housing alternatives and diversifying funding sources. Additionally, the organization raises awareness and mobilizes communities to become involved in improving their living environments.

Looking Ahead

Organizations like ActionAid U.K. and Habitat for Humanity GB play an essential role in addressing systemic poverty in Colombia. Their combined efforts tackle poverty through financial inclusion, education, humanitarian aid and infrastructure improvements. Sustaining progress requires continuous collaboration between local communities, government agencies and international partners. Indeed, expanding these initiatives could create lasting change by addressing the root causes of poverty and ensuring that vulnerable populations have the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.

– Sydney Morrow

Sydney is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Transitional Government Aims to Rebuild Syria After Civil War

Rebuild SyriaThe Syrian civil war, which started in 2011, destroyed the country’s economy and infrastructure as armed groups loyal to different sides fought for control over many local economic hubs. This led to the destruction of sprawling urban centers and infrastructure nationwide. However, in December 2024, Syrian opposition forces ousted the Assad regime, marking a turning point in the nation’s history. Now, a transitional government is leading efforts to rebuild Syria through diplomatic measures.

A Free Market Economy

According to Al Jazeera, under the opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the transitional government wants to establish Syria as a free market economy. As a step towards this, the government reopened the Nasib border crossing with Jordan, one of Syria’s busiest trading routes.

The government will be trying to establish new economic protocols to stabilize the public sector. The focus right now is on necessities such as electricity. However, the country’s economy currently revolves around informal markets that don’t have official oversight, resulting in a hard-to-follow capital flow that will be a challenge to capitalize on.

Reforming Government Ministries

Mohammed Abazeed, finance minister, told Reuters that government ministries would be reformed to improve accountability and efficiency, leading to a 400% increase in public sector salaries by February. The government also plans to overhaul the tax system to benefit all taxpayers. These improvements in various sectors will help Syria. 

However, the country still suffers from sanctions other nations imposed on it during Assad’s regime. The Assad regime received sanctions from many countries in the West, such as the U.S. and the U.K. These sanctions forced the regime to look to Iran and Russia for funding, but now that the old regime has been ousted, the new transitional government inherited those sanctions without a direct source of outside financing to counter them.

Removing Economic Sanctions

The transitional government led by interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is in diplomatic talks with the U.S. and European Union (EU) countries to remove economic sanctions. The U.S. government did label HTS as a terrorist organization;

However, on December 20, 2024, the U.S. government removed a $10 million bounty for al-Sharaa. The U.S. is also leading talks with Gulf Arab states to remove sanctions so long as the new government cuts ties with Russia and Iran, according to Al Jazeera.

A Peaceful Resolution

Armed groups and militias still control much of Syria. Many of these groups fought the HTS or remained wary of their intentions. As a show of peace, the transitional government invited delegates from all over Syria to a national dialogue conference on February 25.

Al-Sharaa and his government are trying to reach a peaceful resolution with other armed groups by involving them in rebuilding and creating a unified army from these groups. However, the Syrian Democratic Forces have refused to disarm and give up their territory.

Conclusion

Many Syrians remain hopeful for the future. Diplomatic talks with nations such as Türkiye remain consistent for the transitional government, potentially allowing for foreign investment. Syria remains in a precarious position but is consolidating a plan to rebuild.

– Jonathan Joseph

Jonathan is based in Milwaukee, WI, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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NGOs Supporting Palestinians Amid Conflict and Hardship

How NGOs Are Supporting Palestinians Amid Conflict and HardshipDecades of conflict and hardship have left millions of Palestinians in need of humanitarian assistance, with 3.3 million requiring aid in Gaza and the West Bank. Amid widespread poverty—nearly half of Palestinian families live below the poverty line—80% of Gazans depend on relief supplies to survive. In response, a network of international and local NGOs are supporting Palestinians by providing life-saving aid, fostering economic resilience and advocating for human rights to support Palestinian communities.

PRCS and the Red Cross

Amid conflict, medical teams and first responders work tirelessly to deliver critical care under fire. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has been treating the injured and distributing essential supplies despite extreme dangers. By early January 2024, PRCS teams in Gaza had treated about 15,000 injured people while also distributing food, water, blankets and medical supplies to displaced families seeking shelter in hospitals. However, these humanitarian efforts have come at a cost, with ambulances and medical staff frequently coming under attack.

The ICRC has reinforced PRCS’s efforts by delivering relief supplies to more than 1.8 million displaced Gazans and providing cash assistance to more than 110,000 vulnerable individuals. In the West Bank, the ICRC has implemented emergency cash grants for 910 families whose homes were destroyed while also improving water and sanitation systems that benefit many residents. Together, these joint emergency medical efforts have been a lifeline for Palestinian civilians, ensuring that those in the most dire conditions receive critical support.

Healing Hands: International Medical Aid in Gaza

Beyond emergency response teams, international medical NGOs are addressing urgent health care shortages and providing life-saving treatment for Palestinians. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which has operated in Gaza for decades, continues to provide surgical and burns care despite hospitals sustaining severe damage.

Following an airstrike on a refugee camp in northern Gaza in 2023, MSF teams treated 50 wounded patients in a single day at Al-Awda Hospital. Over the year, MSF provided more than 107,000 outpatient consultations, conducted 3,670 surgeries and led 13,300 mental health sessions for patients recovering from PTSD and war-related trauma.

Similarly, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) has led one of its biggest humanitarian responses to date. In 2024 alone, MAP provided medical aid and humanitarian support to nearly 1 million Palestinians in Gaza. Working with local hospitals, MAP dispatched dozens of truckloads of medical supplies, including 32 aid trucks since a January 2025 ceasefire. Additionally, emergency medical teams have performed more than 7,593 consultations and 1,587 surgeries for injured civilians.

MAP’s work has also included hospital rehabilitation efforts, setting up new surgical wards and field clinics, while screening 47,000 people for malnutrition to prevent famine. As conflict continues to strain Gaza’s fragile health care system, these NGOs play a crucial role in sustaining life-saving medical operations.

Essential Aid for Displaced Families

Beyond medical care, NGOs are supporting displaced Palestinians by ensuring they receive necessities such as food, clean water and shelter. Save the Children, which has been active in the occupied Palestinian territories since the 1970s, has reached more than 1 million people in Gaza through relief efforts across 50 locations. The organization has distributed drinking water, food parcels, hygiene kits and winter supplies while also establishing Child-Friendly Spaces to support children’s mental health.

Similarly, Oxfam has launched an extensive emergency response, overcoming severe logistical challenges to assist. Since October 2023, Oxfam and its local partners have assisted more than 262,000 people in Gaza, including 120,000 children. Its efforts include:

  • Delivering clean water to 120,000 people through desalination units and latrines
  • Providing food aid to 140,000 individuals, including fresh vegetables from remaining local farms
  • Distributing winter supplies, including blankets and warm clothing, to 42,000 displaced people
  • Supplying cash vouchers, allowing families to buy essentials as needed

Despite ongoing fuel shortages and security threats, these organizations continue to provide vital aid to families facing extreme hardship.

Building Long-Term Resilience

While immediate humanitarian relief is crucial, NGOs are also working to rebuild Palestinian livelihoods by fostering economic resilience. The ICRC has provided cash grants to nearly 2,800 vulnerable individuals in the West Bank, helping sustain livestock and agriculture in rural communities. These grants allow farming families to replace lost animals and continue producing food despite instability.

Oxfam has also been instrumental in supporting Palestinian entrepreneurship. In Gaza, Oxfam-backed programs have helped individuals like Aya Kishko, a carpenter who opened a workshop recycling scrap wood into furniture despite the blockade. With limited raw materials entering Gaza, her business—supported by Oxfam initiatives—not only generates income but also repurposes scarce resources, showcasing NGO-driven resilience efforts. By investing in local businesses and sustainable economic opportunities, these organizations are empowering Palestinians to rebuild their futures despite ongoing challenges.

Balancing Aid and Advocacy

From field hospitals to food distribution centers, the NGOs supporting Palestinians provide a range of humanitarian services to Palestinians facing crisis and recovery efforts. While emergency aid addresses immediate survival needs, development programs focus on supporting livelihoods and long-term stability. However, demand for assistance continues to exceed available resources and aid agencies face operational challenges, including security risks and restricted access. As the situation continues, NGOs play a significant role in addressing humanitarian needs and supporting ongoing recovery efforts.

– Leah Ishak

Leah is based in Exeter, Devon, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Fragility and Rule of Law in Ukraine

Rule of Law in UkraineRussia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 has strained the rule of law in Ukraine as the country navigates maintaining human rights and order amidst unprecedented challenges. While the invasion has caused the oppressive influence of the post-soviet Oligarchy to diminish with aid from Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s introduction of the anti-oligarchy law in 2021, millions of people have sunk further into poverty due to key factors such as rising costs of basic resources, loss of livelihoods and forced displacement. The stability of civilian rights has become even more fragile, with more people falling into poverty and insecurity due to the state’s adoption of martial law to preserve overall national security.

Post-Soviet Rule of Law

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 brought about the power of the Oligarchy, which due to the privatization of state-owned assets such as transport and utilities controlled a large majority of the political-economic landscape, using extra-legal methods to maintain severe monetary inequalities. Economic stagnation led to at least 30% of families living below the poverty line with heavily restricted access to health care and food security, creating a declining population.

At the turn of the century in 2000, Ukraine’s capital management and utilization improved and the economic output recovery was astounding; a rapid increase in labor activity resulted in a decrease in the poverty rate from 32% to 8% from 2001 to 2005, allowing the poverty rate to reach a stable plateau. However the power of the Oligarchs did not diminish and two revolutions followed; The Orange Revolution from 2004 to 2005 and The Revolution of Dignity in 2014, both sparked by political corruption traced back to the Oligarchs. 

Effects of the Russo-Ukrainian War on the Rule of Law

Following the Kerch Strait incident in November 2018, Ukraine introduced martial law for 30 days and it has been in effect again since February 2022 due to the invasion of Russian forces. As Amnesty International outlined, martial law has a devastating impact on socioeconomic rights such as freedom of expression, violence against minority groups and the right to a healthy environment.

Personal liberties are under threat, with Ukrainian men aged from 18 to 60 unable to leave the country without special exemption and the conscription age reduced from 27 to 25 in April 2024 to support a larger military. Ukraine allows forced alienation of property and the use of enterprises’ facilities for the need of the state, providing compensation only upon presentation of correct documentation. The Ukrainian government also postponed the Parliamentary elections, which were due in late 2023, for as long as the country remains under martial law to preserve government stability.

Additionally, World Bank data reports that the percentage of Ukrainians living in poverty spiked from 5.5% to 24.1% in 2022 when the full-scale invasion began. This translates to a further 7.1 million people living in poverty, setting the country back 15 years of progress.

Organizations Working to Stabilize the Rule of Law

Despite infringements on civilian rights, positive steps are occurring to help those forced into poverty because of the conflict, alongside legal forces working to ensure that the government does not overstep its jurisdiction while operating under martial law. The World Bank’s PEACE project is helping essential public support services from the government continue. It has reached 15 million Ukrainians since 2022, providing wages for essential workers, pensions for the elderly and social programs for vulnerable individuals.

Amnesty International has also recently launched a campaign to end war crimes against Ukrainians in Russian captivity, detailing that since the invasion in 2022, thousands of Ukrainian POWs (prisoners of war) have experienced detainment or torture. The campaign is still currently in its grassroots stages, however has gained the support of more than 100 former POWs and relatives of POWs, calling for messages to Russian authorities to end the widespread abuse of captive Ukrainians.

Furthermore, The International Bar Association reports that Ukraine as of late 2024 has been formally granted to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), having sworn in 250 judges at an oath-taking ceremony aimed at abolishing remaining corruptive forces and strengthening the rule of law in Ukraine within the current state of martial law.

Closing Remarks

The rule of law in Ukraine is currently in a delicate position, with the Russo-Ukrainian war and the introduction of martial law causing numerous setbacks in their post-soviet socioeconomic progression towards a stronger economy and a reduced poverty rate. However, the events have catalyzed hugely positive changes that have eroded the long-standing corruption within the government dating back to the Soviet era. The Russo-Ukrainian war is still in a volatile state and at the height of violence hitherto, however, the steps taken by the key nonprofit and legal institutions will prove pivotal in allowing for further progression and protection of civil liberties within Ukraine’s current compromised state of martial law and conflict.

– Helena Pryce

Helena is based in Nottingham, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikipedia Commons

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The East African Community and the Eastern Congo Crisis

The East African CommunityThe Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has endured more than three decades of conflict, with constant attacks on civilians and insecurity fueling a severe humanitarian crisis. Even before the recent surge in violence, 21 million people were internally displaced and in dire need of humanitarian assistance, a number that continues to rise daily. The ongoing DRC crisis in Eastern Congo has displaced more than 6 million people, creating a cycle of dependency on aid.

This situation will likely worsen the DRC crisis due to funding shortages, including significant cuts from the United States, which accounted for 70% of the DRC’s aid in 2024. Despite these challenges, humanitarian organizations and regional neighbors like the East African Community (EAC) remain committed to fostering peace and delivering essential aid to the Congolese people.

First Congo War 1960-1965

Shortly after gaining independence from Belgium, chaos erupted as the Force Publique soldiers at the Thysville military base, marking the beginning of the DRC crisis. Congolese soldiers revolted against their white counterparts, demanding better wages. This unrest quickly escalated to other military bases, igniting widespread violence across the nation.

Just two days earlier, the provinces of Katanga and South Kasai had declared their independence from Congo. These post-colonial power struggles led to the assassination of Patrice Lumumba on January 17, 1961, which only deepened the chaos. On November 25, 1965, Mobutu Sese Seko seized power in a coup, renaming the country Zaire. He ruled until 1997 when he was ousted after decades of corruption and economic mismanagement.

The Rwanda Genocide and its Aftermath

When the Rwandan genocide ended in 1994, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) reclaimed the Rwandan capital, Kigali. The advance of the Tutsi-led rebels forced more than one million Hutu refugees to flee to the DRC (then Zaire), where they staged attacks against the Kigali government while being sheltered by Mobutu.

In 1996, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) and the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (ADFL), under the command of Laurent Kabila, conducted attacks on the camps. The war pitted the ADFL against Mobutu Sese Seko’s Zairian Armed Forces (FAZ), Interahamwe militia, Rwandan Armed Forces ex-FAR and mercenaries. This rebellion stoked ethnic tensions, particularly with the Banyamulenge Tutsis in eastern Congo and eventually led to the overthrow of Mobutu in 1997.

Second Congo War 1998-2003

After Mobutu fled to exile in Morocco, Kabila expelled all foreign soldiers, but the Hutu militias stationed in eastern Congo continued their attacks on Rwanda. In August 1998, Rwanda invaded eastern Congo with the support of Congolese Tutsi and rebel groups against Kabila. This marked the start of the Second Congo War, which drew in as many as 14 different armies, including troops from Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe, who backed Kabila against Burundi, Uganda and Rwandan forces against Kabila.

The wars led to countless deaths, displacements and entrenched ethnic divisions and resource-driven conflicts in eastern Congo, leaving a legacy of instability that persists today.

The Role of the East African Community

The EAC is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, DRC and Somalia. The community has committed to maintaining peace and restoring stability in the DRC. Some of the interventions include:

  • In July 1999, Rwanda, Uganda and four other warring nations signed the Lusaka Accord, formalizing a ceasefire to end the Second Congo War.
  • In 2002, Rwanda and Uganda endorsed the Pretoria Agreement, while Uganda and the DRC agreed to withdraw Ugandan troops and restore bilateral relations under the Luanda Agreement.
  • Between 2008 and 2009, Rwanda and DRC held joint military operations called Kimia to disarm armed groups in eastern DRC.
  • In 2022, the EAC deployed regional forces to eastern DRC to work with the DRC forces to combat armed groups and support humanitarian efforts.
  • In 2022, the EAC Nairobi Process emerged, rallying regional leaders, civil society and international partners to prioritize dialogue and negotiation, particularly pushing for dialogue between the government and M23. 
  • In 2023, the Joint EAC-SADC united regional leaders in committing to a lasting solution, urging peaceful coexistence. Despite setbacks, such as President Tshisekedi’s refusal to attend a virtual summit hosted by Kenya’s William Ruto in 2025, regional collaboration remains central to resolving the crisis.

Final Remarks

The East African Community has dedicated significant efforts to fostering dialogue and promoting peace in the DRC, from a conflict dynamic to peace initiatives. However, it has encountered various challenges and criticisms. The deployment and subsequent withdrawal of the EAC Regional Force underscored the need for a more effective approach to tackle the issues comprehensively.

The differing economic and political interests among member states complicate the mission to pursue peace, as these divergent priorities have prompted the DRC government to seek assistance from external parties, further exacerbating the country’s instability.

The DRC crisis is a complex weave of historical injustices, failed governance, external meddling and a lack of global concern. Achieving a lasting solution goes beyond ceasefires. It requires dismantling systems that favor resource exploitation at the expense of human dignity. It also calls for holding regional powers responsible for destabilizing and empowering Congolese communities to take charge of their recovery.

– Grace Ruria

Grace is based in Nairobi, Kenya and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Rafah Border Crossing Opening and Rebuilding Palestine

Rafah border crossingThe Rafah border crossing, situated between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, has historically served as Gaza’s sole passage to the outside world that does not traverse Israel. Established following the 1979 Egypt–Israel peace treaty, it has long been a critical route for Palestinians seeking medical treatment. During times when other crossings were closed or restricted, the Rafah border crossing became a vital lifeline for the region.

The Impact of the Border’s Closure

The Rafah border crossing was sealed in early May 2024 following Israeli military actions. During an offensive in the southern part of Gaza, Israeli forces seized control of the Palestinian side of the crossing. This closure severely hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of the injured, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Tania Hary, director of Gisha, an Israeli human rights group, stated, “The most vulnerable residents of Gaza—its children, sick, and elderly—are paying the highest price” as a result of the closure, The New York Times reports.

The border’s closure left more than 2 million Palestinians trapped in Gaza without access to medical treatment or relief, adding to the region’s suffering.

Before the reopening, more than 6,000 patients were ready for evacuation for medical treatment abroad, and more than 12,000 patients were in urgent need due to the collapse of Gaza’s health system.

Reopening and Humanitarian Efforts

Since the Rafah border crossing reopened, Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported that 37 children could enter Egypt for medical treatment, with approximately 60 family members accompanying them, according to AP News. This marked a significant success for those advocating for medical evacuations.

Several organizations have stepped forward to support these efforts.

The EU has reactivated its civilian mission to monitor the Rafah border crossing, deploying personnel to support Palestinian border officials. This initiative aims to ensure the efficient transfer of individuals requiring medical care out of Gaza.

International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance (INARA) has been instrumental in organizing evacuations and ensuring that those in need, especially children, receive the treatment they urgently require.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been actively involved in coordinating medical evacuations, providing logistical support, and advocating for expedited transfers. It estimates that between 12,000 to 14,000 Palestinians require urgent medical care outside of Gaza.

Looking Ahead: The Path to Recovery

Despite the successful evacuation of some individuals, the process remains laborious. Arwa Damon, founder of INARA, described the evacuation of 2,500 Palestinian children requiring lifesaving medical care as a lengthy and complicated process. Parents or guardians must first apply for medical evacuation, after which the Health Ministry in Gaza reviews the cases and categorizes them based on urgency.

While the Rafah border crossing reopening has provided immediate relief, Gaza still faces immense challenges in its reconstruction efforts. The conflict has left extensive damage to infrastructure, with thousands of homes destroyed, and critical facilities like hospitals and schools severely impaired. The United Nations estimates that rebuilding Gaza will require more than $1.2 billion just to clear the rubble and could until 2040 to rebuild the shattered houses.

Security Concerns and International Efforts

The situation remains unstable, with fragile ceasefire talks still in progress. The outcome of these negotiations remains uncertain, as both local and international actors continue to push for a resolution. The international community’s continued involvement will be essential in navigating these complex negotiations.

The reopening of the Rafah border crossing is a vital step toward alleviating the immediate humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, substantial challenges persist. Long-term recovery will require continued international support, effective coordination, and the removal of material restrictions that hinder the region’s reconstruction.

– Mmanoko Faith Molobetsi

Mmanoko is based in Pretoria, South Africa and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 Nonprofits Creating Food Security in Syria

Food Security in SyriaNonprofit organizations in Syria are on the ground working to alleviate the ongoing food insecurity crisis. Fourteen years of conflict and humanitarian crises have left Syria’s people struggling to meet their basic needs. Access to food is the most urgent need of the Syrian people. Repeated crises – the earthquake in 2023 and acute political instability in 2024 – have displaced millions. Displacement, conflicts and humanitarian crises made it difficult for nonprofits to get aid to those in need and have plunged a majority of Syrians into poverty. Despite serious obstacles, these five nonprofits are on the ground distributing aid to the Syrian people.

What to Know About Food Security in Syria

More than half of the people in Syria (12.9 million) are currently food insecure. Of those experiencing acute and ongoing hunger, pregnant women and children under 5 are the most at risk.

The food security situation is dynamic, with early indicators pointing to drought conditions in 2025. Unfortunately, this may deepen the hunger crisis.

Ongoing humanitarian crises make it difficult for nonprofit organizations in Syria to get aid to the people who need it most. The most recent crises are flash points against the backdrop of fourteen years of conflict.

The most recent crises are the February 2023 earthquake and the 2024 overthrow of the Assad regime. Now adding to the turmoil is the conflict in Lebanon that has created new displacement for people who had already fled from conflict back home in Syria, UNHCR reports.

Violet

A group of young people founded Violet in Syria in 2013 at the onset of the crisis in 2011. Violet’s Food Security and Livelihoods Program addresses the needs of the most vulnerable in Syria, “with a focus on those with special needs.” The Food Security and Livelihoods Program delivers food baskets, provides job training, support for Syrian farmers and agriculture and cash distribution to those in need.

Violet’s food baskets program provides families with food and supplies for infants ranging from milk and nutritional supplements to cribs. The Cash for Food program distributes cash assistance to displaced people so they can purchase food.

Syria Relief and Development

Syria Relief and Development is a nonprofit based in the United States that operates in Syria, Turkey and Jordan. The organization was founded in 2011 with a mission to “provide crisis humanitarian relief and plant the seeds of sustainable development for Syria.” Since its beginning, Syria Relief and Development has focused its attention on food security. This has been achieved by providing the Syrian people with food and basic necessities, such as Ramadan Food Kits. 

Takaful Al Sham

Founded in Turkey in 2013 to address the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Takaful Al Sham focuses on meeting the needs of children, youth and women. The organization is working to create food security in several ways. The Emergency Response, FS and Agriculture Program provides internally displaced Syrians with nutrition kits, cash, Ramadan baskets, food vouchers, fresh bread and nutritional supplements for women and children. Other aid includes services for farmers, installation of irrigation networks in local gardens and nutrition classes for parents.

World Vision

After the 2023 earthquake, World Vision worked with the WFP and the International Blue Crescent Foundation to launch programs to provide training, support and tools to Syrian farmers.

World Vision has served the needs of millions of people in Syria. Program activities include providing basic necessities, psychological support and education services.

People in Need

Founded in 1992 by “a group of Czech war correspondents who were no longer satisfied with merely relaying information about ongoing conflicts,” People in Need has become an integral part of the nonprofit network in Central Europe. People in Need is part of Alliance2015, a European nonprofit network.

In Syria, People in Need is supporting food security by funding education and support for entrepreneurs in the agriculture sector.

Since the 2023 earthquake, People in Need has provided emergency aid by distributing food, repairing infrastructure necessary for food networks to function, and providing for the basic needs of internally displaced Syrians.

– Caitlyn Erwin

Caitlyn is based in Asheville, NC, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Migration to Syria: The Challenges Migrating Syrians Face

Migration to Syria
More than 125,000 Syrians have migrated to Syria after 13 years of war. Many have come back to a country that destruction and death has devastated, a country which has endured the dictatorship of Bashar Al-Assad.

According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), at least 580,000 people have died since the start of the war. Under the regime, many citizens and journalists have been kidnapped, injured or killed.

The fall of Assad has meant many Syrians have felt compelled to return to their home country, now it is free from his regime. These migrating Syrians face many challenges and must navigate multiple factors that influence their return, or whether they will return now or later. Here is more information about migration to Syria.

Host Countries are Eager to Facilitate Migration to Syria

Many host countries, such as Turkey respectively, are eagerly promoting Syrian migration. This has meant measures, such as Turkey reopening its Yayladagi border gate in order to “to prevent any congestion and ease traffic,” and make migration easier for most Syrians.

Humanitarian Emergency 

The main obstacles returning Syrians face are access to water, food and safe shelter. According to the UN, nearly 15 million Syrians require medical aid and 13 million are suffering through food insecurity. The war severely damaged essential infrastructure like hospitals, farmlands and shops. Mrinalini Santhanam from the WHO has said “Almost half of the hospitals in Syria are not functional.” However, there is still hope they can rebuild despite the current state of the country.  

The IOM has appealed for $73 million to assist the Syrian population. Since December 2024, the IOM has supplied 170,000 Syrians with clean water. The IOM aims to use the money to provide essential relief items to returning and displaced Syrians, like shelters, sanitation and health support. It also aims to apply its Displacement Tracking Matrix, a tool that analyzes data around displaced persons, in order to ensure that aid workers can provide more efficient and suitable support to Syrians.

According to the UNCHR, 90% of Syrians rely on humanitarian aid. Short term goals of providing aid will, in turn, support the long-term goal of rebuilding Syria into the thriving, beautiful country it once was. UNCHR is supporting this by providing shelters, cash and education programs for Syrians returning and those who the war displaced.

Overhauling Sanctions 

The global community can assist in achieving this goal of peace not only through providing aid but also in lifting sanctions. These sanctions had been placed upon Assad’s regime, not the current government. Therefore, they arguably are not providing any productive purpose.

Syrian Ambassador Koussay Aldahhak stated that “a smooth end to sanctions, appropriate action on designations too, and major funding” was necessary, claiming that such sanctions don’t apply to the current authority and impede the efforts to rebuild.

The EU has responded to this issue by agreeing to lift some sanctions. These include sanctions that had been placed on the “energy and […] financial institutions,” according to France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. This gradual removal of sanctions may help catalyze Syria’s growth by aiding the economy.

Most people migrating back to Syria plan to overcome the issue of a stunted economy by subsisting on money earned in the neighboring countries they once lived in. The UNCHR has reported that increasingly the demographic of returning Syrians are women and children. Reports have said that some families plan to leave the breadwinner of the family in the host country. This would enable the breadwinner to work and earn money that the family can use to successfully readapt into Syrian society.

Cultural Reintegration

Another issue that returning Syrians may face is how their experiences in host countries will influence how well they adjust back to Syrian society. This especially applies to children of Syrians, children who may have had little to no knowledge of or attachment to the country their parents were born in. Muhammed Salih Ali, head of the Association for Solidarity with Syrian Refugees in Izmir, Turkey, said it would be “very difficult for this generation to return.” 

The Future 

Despite the numerous hurdles that Syria faces, the unbridled support from NGOs and the determination of its people will help restore the country and give peace to its citizens. The steady increase of migration to Syria clearly shows that Syrians are resolute to return home to a country they deeply care about. 

– Maryam Abdalla

Maryam is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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The Fall of Assad’s Regime and Challenges Facing Syrians

The Fall of Assad’s RegimeIn the past decade, Syria has dealt with “one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.” More than 5 million Syrian refugees live in the five countries neighboring Syria. Since 2011, Syria has been marred by civil war. The brutal dictator, Bashar Al-Assad, has led a tyrannical regime over the Syrian people. In response to protests following the Arab Spring, the government used “deadly force” against the peaceful demonstrators. This violence escalated into a bloody civil war.

Additionally, “more than 14 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety” since 2011. The United Nations (U.N.) also reports that about 70% of the country’s population needs humanitarian assistance, with 90% living below the poverty line. However, the fall of Assad’s regime has happened and many Syrians are thinking of returning home. Although the fall of Assad’s regime can be seen as a positive development, the future for Syria and its people remains unclear. Here are five obstacles for the Syrian people after Assad fell from power.

Destruction of Infrastructure

Although Assad is gone and Syrian refugees consider the possibility of going back, Syria’s infrastructure has been obliterated by the 13-year civil war. “Basic amenities like clean water, electricity and housing are difficult to find,” Vox reports. For people whose homes were not destroyed, some of them have other people living in them now and “many refugees lack documentation to prove they own their properties.” 

On top of that, the new government will unlikely be able to resolve “property disputes” as they are stretched so thin. The vast majority of the country’s population needs aid. The U.N. Refugee Agency reports that 90% of the population depends on humanitarian assistance. In addition, it is the beginning of winter. If refugees start returning now, they will need “shelter, food and water.” There are continuous obstacles for the Syrian people.

Economic Problems

Syria’s economy is in dismal condition and high inflation presents problems for people in Syria, as well as refugees considering returning. The Central Bank of Syria reports that inflation reached 122% in April 2024. In addition, schools have been destroyed, leaving many children without education. In tandem with that, few job opportunities exist for people to earn a reasonable living. Employment is yet another one of the obstacles for Syrian people. 

During Assad’s reign, countries like the U.S. put heavy sanctions on Syria, hurting the nation’s economy even further. However, the current “de facto leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa,” is asking for sanctions to be lifted; he asserts that Syria does not pose a threat to other parts of the world as it did under Assad’s regime. The sanctions are currently still in place.

Uncertain Future

Although many feel joy at the end of Assad’s tyrannical and oppressive regime, the future remains uncertain for Syria. Ahmed al-Sharaa is the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), “the dominant group in the rebel alliance,” which defeated Assad. HTS is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., U.N. and others. Also, the group was formerly part of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda. Many are skeptical about whether or not the new leadership will bring peace to Syria.

Many countries hosting Syrian refugees are eager to send them back. However, too many people returning at once could cause new problems, as the government is already dealing with great hardship. Obstacles for Syrian people in and outside of the nation are ever-present. In the north of Syria, Turkish-backed groups are fighting Kurdish-led groups, which might lead to further violence. Even more, many Syrians are doubting that HTS will bring a peaceful future, as they led an authoritarian rule in the northwest of the country. 

Humanitarian Aid

Syria Relief & Development (SRD) is a nonprofit organization that addresses Syria’s most urgent need for aid. It was founded in 2011 and intends to provide humanitarian relief and encourage sustainable development in Syria. Since 2011, SRD has been involved in more than 18 million humanitarian interventions in Syria. The organization continues to provide support in health care, education, disaster relief and much more. 

Final Thoughts

Syria’s future may be unclear, but there is no doubt that the fall of Assad’s regime has brought great joy to the Syrian people. Obstacles for Syrian people are still present and much aid is still needed. However, there seems to be a hope that Syria will be able to forge a newer and better future.

– Michael Messina

Michael is based in Newburyport, MA, US and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels