Tag Archive for: Poverty in Syria

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How Vocational Training for Syrian Women Supports Empowerment

Vocational Training for Syrian WomenThe economic collapse following the Syrian conflict left more than 90% of Syrians living below the poverty line, with many women becoming heads of households in a society lacking the legal reforms needed to support their transition into this role. Of these households, 92% living in displacement camps were unable to meet their basic needs. As of 2025, women’s labor-force participation stands at 12.7%, compared to 61.4% for men. Vocational training helps to address this gap by providing women with specialized skills that support financial stability, self sufficiency and improved access to work opportunities. These findings explain why humanitarian organizations are prioritizing vocational training for Syrian women, expanding education access and supporting their path to economic independence. Here are the four key ways vocational training for Syrian women is supporting their empowerment.

Economic Independence

Vocational training centers in Syria give women “income-generating skills” that support long-term economic stability, according to the Aga Khan Development Network. DCA Syria developed its programs in response to the socio-economic instability women face, offering training that equips women with the skills and knowledge needed to generate their own income.

The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Building Life Skills and Resilience (BLRS) program also provides specialized vocational training for Syrian women that strengthens their employability and confidence. Ashwaq, a 21-year-old woman, benefited from BLRS training in 2024. CARE reported that the program’s bakery training equipped her with practical, transferable skills that helped her earn a sustainable income and create stability for her family.

Women’s Roles in the Workforce

In 2017, the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy reported that the Syrian conflict had severely affected women’s lives but also opened new avenues for them in the workforce. The deaths and displacement of husbands, fathers and brothers created a significant labor gap that women are now filling. As a result, women have become the primary earners in almost one in three households.

In response to these changes, the UNDP developed workshops, vocational training and emergency employment opportunities to support women’s participation in the workforce. TIMEP noted the effectiveness of these initiatives, reporting that the UNDP provided career opportunities to 6,103 women heading households in 2016.

Vocational training has significantly reshaped Syrian women’s economic roles. Organizations continue to educate and support Syrian women “economically, professionally, socially and culturally.”

Education Access for Young Women

In 2025 UNICEF enabled 164,883 girls to return to learning and develop transferable competencies through non-formal education. These programs include self-learning, remedial education, early childhood education and life-skills training. UNICEF reported that this approach highlights the growing need to provide women and girls, including internationally displaced persons, returnees and vulnerable host communities, with opportunities to rebuild their confidence and strengthen their learning pathways.

UNICEF has also expanded programs aimed at “strengthening adolescents’ resilience, agency and social cohesion.” These programs teach life skills, employability training and civic engagement. By the end of 2025, these initiatives strengthened wider efforts to stabilize communities and reached 255,488 adolescent girls.

Rebuilding After Displacement

Vocational education gives women and displaced people practical training that supports reintegration into society, strengthens economic stability and contributes to recovery from conflict-related trauma. The Columbia University Journal of International Affairs emphasizes the importance of these programs, noting that two-thirds of Syrians displaced globally are women who are underrepresented in the “global narrative.”

Refugee camps also support women as they return to community life by offering training opportunities. In research on displacement in the Abu Khashab camp, Acted documented Heba, a woman who gained practical skills and new opportunities through participation in training centers. These skills helped her reintegrate into community life and build long-term stability.

Conclusion

Vocational training centers in Syria play a central role in supporting women’s empowerment through expanding access to job opportunities and practical life skills. These programs have emerged in response to the barriers that continue to limit women’s achievements. The experiences of women such as Ashwaq and Heba show how practical training can create pathways to employment and stability, even in a post-conflict society. As humanitarian organizations continue investing in vocational training for Syrian women, these initiatives remain essential to strengthening women’s roles within their communities and the labor market.

– Flora de Leeuw

Flora is based in Exeter, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How South Korea’s Rice Donation Is Supporting Families in Syria

South Korea's Rice DonationSouth Korea has donated 2,400 tons of rice to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to support food-insecure families in Syria. The contribution comes as humanitarian agencies continue responding to widespread hunger and economic hardship across the country. Through WFP distribution programs, the rice will help provide meals and nutritional support to vulnerable households, including displaced families and communities struggling with rising food prices.

WFP officials said the donation will strengthen ongoing food assistance operations in Syria, where many households remain dependent on humanitarian aid for daily meals. The partnership also reflects growing international cooperation aimed at addressing hunger in conflict-affected regions.

Why Food Insecurity Remains a Crisis in Syria

Syria continues to face one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. More than a decade of conflict has damaged infrastructure, disrupted agricultural production and weakened the country’s economy. These challenges have made it harder for families to access affordable food, stable employment and essential public services.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that more than 15 million Syrians still require humanitarian assistance, including food aid, health care and shelter support. Economic instability and inflation have further increased pressure on households already dealing with displacement and poverty.

WFP has also warned that food insecurity remains widespread across Syria, with many families reducing meal sizes or skipping meals entirely due to high food costs. Humanitarian agencies say vulnerable households are often forced to make difficult financial choices between food, medicine and other necessities. Despite these ongoing challenges, international food assistance programs continue providing support to communities facing the greatest need.

How the Rice Donation Will Support Families

South Korea’s rice donation will be distributed through the WFP-established humanitarian network inside Syria. WFP operates large-scale food assistance programs designed to reach communities affected by poverty, displacement and supply shortages. Using existing distribution systems enables aid organizations to deliver support to vulnerable populations more efficiently.

Humanitarian experts say staple foods such as rice are especially valuable during emergencies because they provide reliable nutrition and can support families when local markets become unstable or unaffordable. Food assistance programs also help reduce immediate pressure on households struggling to secure regular meals. For many Syrian families, receiving food aid can also create financial breathing room. 

When households spend less on food, they may be able to redirect their limited income toward school expenses, transportation, medical costs or housing costs. Relief organizations say this type of support can help families maintain stability during prolonged crises. Humanitarian assistance programs are also important for protecting children and vulnerable populations from worsening malnutrition and poverty.

Supporting Long-Term Recovery Efforts

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has reported that Syria’s agricultural sector continues to face major setbacks, including damaged irrigation systems, shortages of farming supplies and reduced crop production. These conditions have slowed local recovery efforts and increased dependence on international humanitarian assistance. Food aid alone cannot fully resolve Syria’s economic and humanitarian challenges, but it can help stabilize communities while recovery efforts continue.

Humanitarian organizations say emergency food support works best when combined with programs focused on rebuilding agriculture, restoring livelihoods and improving local food production.

Global Cooperation Remains Essential

South Korea’s rice donation to Syria reflects the broader role international partnerships play in addressing global hunger. Organizations such as WFP rely heavily on support from governments and humanitarian donors to maintain food assistance operations in crisis-affected regions. As humanitarian needs persist across Syria, global cooperation remains essential to help relief agencies deliver consistent support to vulnerable communities. 

Aid officials say donations like this provide practical, immediate assistance while helping families navigate difficult economic conditions and ongoing uncertainty.

They also emphasize that continued international support can help prevent worsening food insecurity in already fragile communities. Reliable food assistance programs provide families with regular meals while enabling humanitarian organizations to respond more quickly during emergencies. 

In Syria, where many households continue rebuilding after years of instability, international aid remains an important source of relief and support for millions of people facing daily economic challenges.

– Angela “Phoenix” Garrett

Angela is based in Chicago, IL, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Picryl

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Women Join Syria’s Demining Effort

Syria’s DeminingWhen Abeer Ghonimi walks into a field in northwest Syria, she takes her life into her own hands. A mother, researcher and Arabic literature graduate, Ghonimi is one of a small but growing number of women joining Syria’s demining effort, work that is not just dangerous but essential for millions of people who cannot yet safely return home.

More than a decade of civil war has left Syria among the most heavily contaminated countries on earth. Clearing that contamination has become one of the most urgent tasks of post-conflict recovery, and women like Ghonimi are increasingly part of the workforce doing it.

A Country Riddled With Hidden Dangers

Syria has recorded the highest or second-highest number of landmine casualties in the world for several years running. In 2023, the country recorded 933 casualties from mines and explosive remnants of war, more than any other country. In 2022, the figure was 834, also a global high. Casualties surged sharply after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024, as millions of displaced Syrians began moving back to areas that had been closed off for years. Between Dec. 8, 2024 and March 25, 2025, the International Committee of the Red Cross recorded 748 casualties from mines and explosive remnants. Of those, 500 came in the first three months of 2025 alone, more than half the total recorded in all of 2024.

The scale of contamination is significant. According to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), approximately 15.4 million people in Syria, more than 65% of the population, live at risk from unexploded ordnance, including landmines, improvised explosive devices and the remnants of years of aerial and artillery bombardment.

The human cost is matched by an economic one. Contaminated farmland cannot be planted. Roads cannot be repaired. Schools and water infrastructure sit idle because clearing them first requires funding and personnel that remain in short supply. One estimate put the cost of clearing northeast Syria alone at more than $190 million. Experts have warned that at current resource levels, it could take 25 to 40 years to address Syria’s contamination fully.

Training Local Deminers and the Inclusion of Women

Humanitarian organizations are expanding training programs to build local capacity. France-based Humanity and Inclusion, formerly Handicap International, concluded a three-week intensive course in early February 2025, based out of its Hama office and focused on northwestern Syria. The training team included two instructors, 12 trainees, 10 working deminers, a deputy team leader and a team leader. Participants learned to identify landmines and unexploded ordnance, follow safety protocols and respond to threats in their own communities, with classroom instruction combined with practical fieldwork in affected areas, including Idlib and Aleppo.

Those efforts are beginning to show results. According to UNMAS, cross-border mine action partners such as Humanity & Inclusion conducted 1,500 clearance operations between the fall of Assad and December 2025, disposing of more than 2,000 items of unexploded ordnance. During the same period, 141 minefields and 450 confirmed hazardous areas were identified across Idlib, Aleppo, Hama, Deir Ezzor and Latakia. Risk education has also expanded: 930 sessions were delivered to around 17,000 people in northwest Syria during the same period.

Separately, MAG International’s teams in northeast Syria have helped restore water supplies, roads, agricultural land and schools that had been blocked by contamination, enabling displaced communities to return.

HALO Trust deminers, including women such as 32-year-old Lama Haj Kaddour, are now working across the country following the end of the Assad era, which opened up regions that were previously inaccessible to civilian demining organizations.

Why Women’s Involvement Matters

Women remain underrepresented in Syria’s demining workforce, but their participation is growing. The recent Humanity and Inclusion cohort included two female trainees drawn directly from local communities. Among them was Ghonimi, who had worked for humanitarian causes since 2017 and trained community members to recognize the risks of explosive remnants before joining a clearance team herself.

Her motivation is personal as much as professional. “At any moment, I may encounter unexploded ordnance,” she told Arab News from Idlib. “Or my son could be exposed to remnants of war.” That fear, she said, drove her to learn how to respond and to pass that knowledge on. While working in Taftanaz, northeast of Idlib, a participant in one of her awareness sessions used what he had learned to stop a neighbor from picking up a suspicious object, a potentially life-saving intervention that illustrates how local knowledge, once shared, multiplies.

The practical case for including women is well established. In communities across Syria where conservative social norms restrict interaction between unrelated men and women, female deminers and risk education officers can access households and speak with women and children in ways that male colleagues often cannot. Those groups are among the most vulnerable to accidents, particularly children who may encounter or handle unfamiliar objects. UNICEF has estimated that at least 422,000 incidents involving unexploded ordnance have been reported across Syria since 2011 and that roughly half involved child casualties.

A Broader Push for Women’s Inclusion

The growing presence of women in demining is part of a wider effort to ensure Syria’s recovery is not rebuilt along the same exclusionary lines as before. Women have been largely sidelined in the country’s political transition: when elections were held in October 2025, just six women won seats in the 119-member transitional parliament. Women’s groups have described their roles in many institutions as symbolic rather than substantive.

In that context, technical roles like demining carry significance beyond the immediate task. Humanitarian frameworks increasingly recognize that gender inclusion improves outcomes in post-conflict recovery, not as an add-on, but because diverse teams reach more of the affected population and build stronger local ownership of the recovery process. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Syria’s Gender Equality Strategy for 2026 reflects this thinking, aiming to embed women’s agency across economic, social and institutional recovery programs.

For Ghonimi, the logic is straightforward. “There is no difference between men and women in their ability to contribute,” she said. “The war in Syria has shown that women play an essential role in supporting their communities.”

Looking Ahead

Syria’s demining problem is vast, and the resources dedicated to solving it remain far short of what is needed. Germany, one of the key funders of humanitarian demining, cut its relevant budget by more than half in 2025. U.S. support through USAID, which had funded clearance work in northeast Syria, was also cut back. Organisations like HALO Trust and MAG International are working to expand capacity now that the fall of Assad has opened access to previously restricted areas, but experts warn that without sustained international funding, progress will remain painfully slow.

Every cleared field, road or neighborhood returned to safe use represents families able to come home, crops that can be planted and schools that can reopen. As the country’s recovery gathers pace, the women joining Syria’s demining teams are not just clearing land — they are helping to make that recovery possible.

– Andrew Geddes

Andrew is based in Edinburgh, UK and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Syria’s Infrastructure Crisis: Health, Education, Jobs and Energy

Syria's infrastructure crisisSyria slumped into a period of turmoil far before the fall of Assad. However, it continues to struggle despite the inception of the interim regime. Health care infrastructure, education, general employment and the energy sector have been downtrodden for years. The long-term effects of such a catastrophe have begun to compound. While significant efforts have been made to revive Syria’s infrastructure crisis, the consequence of their existence remains a consistent conflict.

Health Care

According to UNICEF, “Half of the primary health care system in Syria remains offline. Two out of five sub-districts do not have functional primary health care facilities.” As of February 2025, more than 40% of Syria’s hospitals and more than 60% of primary health care facilities are offline. According to the U.N., as of December 2024, two million people live in Aleppo, yet fewer than eight hospitals remain operable.

On top of that, only around 20,000 medical staff are left in Syria. This leaves the ratio of health care workers to patients at 2.4 per 1,000, as opposed to the international standard of 4.5 per 1,000. Moreover, Al Jazeera has reported that there are currently more than five million people in Syria living with cancer. However, there are only three oncologists throughout the entire nation.

The hospitals remaining in operation are consistently full and hundreds of names are withering on waitlists waiting to receive prosthetics. Most health care facilities in northern Syria do not possess the equipment necessary to perform intensive surgeries, let alone have access to cancer and heart disease medication.

As of April, the Aid Fund for Syria reported distributing more than $18 million to support health care projects in northern Syria. The funding has assisted more than 65 medical facilities serving 1.9 million people, trained about 2,000 health care workers and contributed to more than 863,000 consultations.

Education and Employment

UNICEF stated that one in three schools in Syria has either been damaged, decimated, converted to military installations or repurposed into civilian shelters. Thousands of educators have fled the country and nearly half of all children ages 5-17 do not attend school. Despite these figures, UNICEF reported in June that 365,000 children had received educational support and 27,000 teachers were trained across all 14 governorates.

Regardless, many of these children may still join the ranks of their compatriots, 37% of whom were unemployed as of June 2024, with 85% facing disguised unemployment, according to the BBC. However, that number may rise as the new regime announced the public sector will require only 550,000–600,000 employees, less than half its previous size. While mass layoffs have not yet occurred, many workers have already been placed on leave.

According to the Tahir Institute, the remaining employees will receive a 200% salary rise, bringing the average monthly wage to $68, just above the poverty line. In March, it was estimated that a family of five living in Damascus would require monthly earnings totaling $666. Of course, this also relates to the depreciation of the Syrian pound. From 2019 to 2024, the currency fell by more than 3,680% against the U.S. dollar, coupled with a rise in inflation. However, it also rose when Assad’s regime collapsed. However, it’s feared that this boost will be temporary.

While progress is made in small amounts, it is still made. In May, the International Labor Organization (ILO) reported implementing the Employment-Intensive Investment Program, which has created short-term jobs in infrastructure rehabilitation; in Aleppo, 140 jobs were generated through this system.

Energy

According to the Tahir Institute, overall infrastructure repair for Syria is estimated to cost between $250 billion and $400 billion. However, Reuters reports that the electrical grid will only cost the nation around $11 billion. Since the start of the civil war, energy production has reduced by 80%, partly because 70% of power plants and electrical lines are damaged. As of October 2024, more than 50% of Syria’s electrical grid is offline.

Power has long been rationed to less than four hours per day for those still connected. Setting aside structural damage, the main factor in this equation is a lack of oil and gas. Syrian Minister of Electricity Ghassan al-Zamel reported that while the ministry requires 23 million cubic meters of gas daily, it receives only 6.5 million. Similarly, only 4,500 of the 10,000 tons of fuel required per day are available.

Moreover, under Assad, the regime had developed plans to install 2,500 megawatts of solar energy, 1,500 megawatts of wind power and 1.2 million solar water heaters. However, it’s uncertain whether or not these projects will ever come to fruition under the new interim government. Regardless, as of June 30, President Trump has lifted sanctions on Syria. While oil and gas may still be inexplicably expensive, it’s a step in the direction of being able to rebuild and reduce Syria’s infrastructure crisis.

In addition, Syria has committed to a deal with Qatar for $7 billion to construct four gas-fueled power plants and a single solar plant. According to Reuters, the energy generated from these facilities is expected to produce 50% of Syria’s electricity and create 50,000-250,000 jobs. However, the deal states that Qatar will own and operate these facilities once completed.

Final Remarks

Perhaps once elections occur, Syria’s infrastructure crisis can be improved and the country can focus on areas that increase its GDP, creating more opportunities for its overwhelmingly impoverished. However, the future remains unclear.

– Owen Armentrout

Owen is based in Detroit, MI, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Rebuilding Syria Post-Assad Era

Rebuilding SyriaIn December 2024, Syria’s ruler, Bashar al-Assad, was chased out of the country, bringing an end to the country’s 14-year-long civil war. In the first 10 years following the Syrian revolution, the conflict displaced 13 million people both within Syria and abroad. Continuous bombing, political instability and disease outbreaks have devastated Syria for more than a decade, leading to the destruction of thousands of buildings, including homes, businesses, hospitals and schools.

As a result, 16.5 million people across Syria require humanitarian aid, making it one of the biggest humanitarian crises in the world. Urgent action is needed to repair the damage and provide adequate food, water, shelter and medical care to the displaced in Syria. Fortunately, humanitarian organizations like UNICEF and World Vision, the United Nations (U.N.) and government organizations like the European Union (EU) have been supplying these needs, albeit with struggles.

Syria’s Current Crisis

Syria ranks among the most food-insecure countries globally, with 14.5 million people requiring food assistance. More than seven million people are internally displaced within Syria, of which two million live in refugee camps that fail to meet basic needs. More than half the population lacks stable access to water.

Children are among the most victimized by the ongoing crisis. More than seven million children require humanitarian assistance. Six million children need protection services from forced labor, human trafficking, child marriage and child recruitment in local militias. Thousands of schools within Syria have been destroyed and those still standing have turned into encampments or emergency medical centers. As a result, 2.4 million eligible children are out of school, leaving them at increased risk of child labor, recruitment and trafficking.

Additionally, fewer than 50% of hospitals and medical facilities in Syria are either half-functioning or non-functioning. The lack of medical care has led to an increase in cases of waterborne, respiratory and vaccine-preventable diseases such as cholera and pneumonia, especially among children.

Rebuilding Syria

When factoring in the cost of rebuilding infrastructure, providing humanitarian aid and military spending, it is estimated that the recovery of Syria could take $1.2 trillion. The international community is assuredly investing in crucial aid to Syria. The largest donor is the EU, which has provided more than $37 billion since the beginning of the war in 2011 and pledged to invest more in 2025. The United Kingdom (U.K.) announced it will spend more than $216 million on humanitarian aid in Syria.

UNICEF has been providing aid to Syria since 2011. Over the years, it has given 4.6 million people access to clean water and vaccinated millions of children. It has also delivered additional medical care to 2.2 million women and children. Since the escalation of violence in July, UNICEF has deployed 14 mobile health and nutrition teams, offering medical care to 4,000 children and women and safe drinking water and fuel for pumping stations that benefit more than 30,000 people.

Similarly, World Vision has managed to aid more than 1.2 million Syrians, providing them with food and natural disaster relief. After a devastating earthquake in 2023, World Vision provided shelter and medical care.

Final Remarks

Reaching the millions of Syrians in need will require significant effort to ensure aid is delivered effectively. Meeting these needs is crucial and imperative, demanding that humanitarian organizations continue investing time and resources in rebuilding Syria.

– Zoe Alatsas

Zoe is based in Brooklyn, NY, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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A Nation in Poverty: An Analysis of Being Poor in Syria 

Being Poor in SyriaSyria has been engulfed in a civil war since the Arab Spring of 2011, eventually culminating in the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024; however, despite the collapse of the dictatorship, conflict has labored on, and the poverty rate refuses to budge. As it currently stands, 90% of Syrians are impoverished, surviving on less than $2.15 a day, according to the World Food Program (WFP); this level of destitution is primarily reliant on water scarcity, food shortages, disheveled health care infrastructure, lack of education and insufficient energy production.  Here is more information about being poor in Syria.

Water Scarcity 

Today, 14.6 million Syrians do not have regular access to clean drinking water, according to UNICEF. The year 2021 marked the beginning of the most severe drought Syria has seen since 1997, with the first quarter of 2025 producing only 94.9 millimeters of rainfall compared to the average of 165.4mm, according to Syria Direct. 

As a consequence of burning fossil fuels, from 2020-2023, temperatures in Syria increased by an average of 1.2 degrees Celsius, taking this level of drought from a one in 250-year event, down to one in 10, according to World Weather Attribution.

In 2010, Syria’s water pumps produced around 1.7 billion cubic meters of water; in 2022, that number had dwindled down to a mere 600 million cubic meters, according to The Century Foundation. The Century Foundation also reports that between 800,000-1.2 million Syrians access water from the Euphrates. However, between the drought depleting the supply and Turkey not allowing the allotted share of water to pass through to Syria, there has been a significant deficit in what the river can provide.

Water Treatment in Syria

Even then, nearly two-thirds of water treatment facilities, half of all pumping stations, and one-third of water towers have suffered catastrophic damage as a result of the ongoing conflict. Almost half of all Syrians are dependent on unsafe drinking sources, and 70% of the nation’s sewage goes untreated, according to UNICEF.

Furthermore, in the governorates of Raqqa and Deir al-Zour, virtually all of the untreated sewage goes directly into the Euphrates, supplementing the ever-growing sanitation dilemma, according to The Century Foundation. The combination of low water levels and destitute sewer infrastructure has become a breeding ground for disease, with 60,000 people suspected of contracting cholera between August 2022 and January 2023, according to The Century Foundation. 

By October 2023, suspected cases of watery diarrhea had increased to more than 215,000, according to Relief Web. While this affliction may sound generally harmless to those in the Western world, if left untreated, patients may die from fluid loss within a matter of hours. However, Syria has made monumental advancements in water infrastructure in recent months.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the Emergency Children’s Help Organization and the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, in late July, Aleppo saw the rehabilitation of three water systems, which had previously become inoperable due to earthquake-sustained damage. These facilities have now guaranteed access to free water for thousands of Syrians, according to Relief Web. However, the remaining exhausted water sources have taken a heavy toll on farmers and, in turn, the overall domestic food supply. One of the contributing factors for this strain has been that the methods Syria uses in cultivation require more water than the climate was capable of producing, even prior to the drought. Frankly, groundwater cannot even sustain these methods.  

Food Shortages

Food shortages are a significant part of being poor in Syria. In Daraa’s 2025 harvest alone, farmers lost 50% of irrigated wheat, but it pales in comparison to the near 100% of rainwater-fed crops that became defunct. For context, this equates to a measly 14% of 2024’s crop, according to Syria Direct. Additionally, the wheat that Daraa has maintained is suffering from increased competition and the possibility of subsidies being removed.  

Syria’s interim government has lifted customs duties and restrictions on Turkish imports. Since the beginning of 2025, these imports have increased by 47%, and the powers that be are also mulling over the alienation of wheat subsidies, according to the Tahir Institute. 

Bread subsidies are already on the sidelines. On top of that, gas canisters used to cook sextupled in price by January 2025, according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. That being said, nearly 13 million Syrians are at risk of extreme hunger, with an additional 2.6 million at risk, according to Relief Web. As a result, UNICEF has said that more than 3.5 million children have become victims of stunting, wasting and micronutrient deficiencies. However, earlier in August 2025, UNICEF announced that it had deployed 14 mobile health and nutrition teams throughout southern Syria, claiming that supplies would be allocated to an estimated 4,000 women and children in need.  

Looking Ahead

While it may seem like a drop in the bucket, efforts like this begin to compound in addressing being poor in Syria. With the help of like-minded organizations, it’s only a matter of time before the situation improves. Even if it’s little by little, these initiatives are saving lives. 

– Owen Armentrout

Owen is based in Detroit, MI, USAs and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Project HOPE: Improving Syria’s Health Crisis

Project HOPEThe end of the 24-year regime of Syrian president Bashar Al–Assad has led to the conclusion of a decade of civil war. It has also exposed major gaps in humanitarian and health care needs. Impacted areas across Syria are facing significant gaps in health care, nutrition, water supply, hygiene and sanitation. Specialized medical staff, essential medications, functional infrastructure and psychosocial support remain in short supply. At the same time, malnutrition, inadequate shelter and logistical challenges continue to hinder delivery.

In the middle of Syria’s health crisis, Project HOPE, in coordination with the Jordan Health Aid Society-International (JHASi), is delivering essential medical supplies and working with local partners to assess health and humanitarian needs. The team has identified shortages of medicine, basic medical supplies and staff. 

Problems Facing Health Care Infrastructure

Diseases, such as cholera and acute watery diarrhoea, are spreading due to Syria’s health crisis. According to Dr. Altaf Musani, the U.N. World Health Organization Director of Health Emergencies, more than 1,444 suspected cases of cholera and seven associated deaths have been recorded. He said, “We know that when cholera gets hold in camps, it can serve as a brush fire, increasing both morbidity and mortality.” He also warned that more than 416,000 children in Syria are at risk from severe malnutrition and that at least half of children under 5 suffering from severe acute malnutrition are not receiving treatment. Dr. Musani also noted that more than 50% of the maternity hospitals in northwest Syria have suspended operations due to underfunding since September 2024.

Dr. Musani said that Syria’s health crisis is partly because the country’s health facilities lack funding and face shortages of skilled workers and equipment. The war forced 50% to 70% of the health workforce to leave the country to look for other opportunities and the health infrastructure still needs investment.

The Impact of Syria’s Health Crisis

Syria’s health care system has undergone a lot of changes in the past decade. The conflict itself devastated the health care system due to loss of health infrastructure, systematic attacks on health care facilities and the mass exodus of health care workers. Parallel governance structures resulted in a fractured and inconsistent health care landscape. 

The full impact of Syria’s health crisis falls most heavily on vulnerable populations. Women in need of maternal care face restricted access to maternal health care facilities. Children experience disrupted vaccine schedules and a shortage of pediatric care. Refugees and internally displaced people lack even basic medical services. Older individuals and people with chronic conditions experience inconsistent access to necessary medications, which intensifies preventable health complications. 

HOPE in Syria

Project HOPE delivered the first nonprofit shipment of medical supplies to southwestern Syria with the support of JHASi and the Al Yusr Charity Organization. The shipment included essential medicine and medical supplies for more than 5,000 people. This part of the country had previously been inaccessible to aid organizations following the end of the Assad regime, contributing to Syria’s health crisis.

Project HOPE has been operating in southern Syria and has assessed 13 hospitals and medical centers in the Daara and Suwayda Governorates since mid-December to identify the greatest health needs. The assessment found significant gaps in health care, nutrition, mental health support and water, hygiene and sanitation services. “Southern Syria desperately needs humanitarian attention, including food aid, health sector support, clean water and mental health care services, particularly for vulnerable groups like women, children, older adults and people with disabilities,” said Laith Salman, Project HOPE’s Team Lead in Syria.

Looking Ahead

Project HOPE has made accomplishments in the field by working to relieve the complications caused by Syria’s health crisis. “A large portion of the population is experiencing trauma, depression and anxiety due to the effects of war. While there are efforts from NGOs to provide mental health and psychological (MHPSS) support, there is a significant lack of trained mental health professionals, specialized facilities and MHPSS programs in the area to help those suffering from the psychological aftermath of decades of conflict,” says Laith Salman. Syria will require continued support from NGOs to recover from its post-conflict health crisis. Project HOPE is one example of an organization providing ongoing assistance to help address the impact of the conflict.

– Abirame Shanthakumar

Abirame is based in Markham, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Building 3D-Printed Shelters for a Nation Ravaged by War

Building 3D-Printed SheltersSyria is enduring among the most complex crises of the 21st century. After 14 years of violence and destruction, innovative 3D-printing technologies are now emerging in the effort to rehome more than 13 million displaced Syrians.

A Nation in Ruins

In the wake of Assad’s brutal regime, Syrians have suffered untold trauma, death and the leveling of homes and public infrastructure during a devastating civil war. With an economy in ruin, around two-thirds of Syria’s 24 million civilians currently depend on humanitarian aid to survive.

Following more than a decade of conflict, nearly half of all Syrians are currently displaced or otherwise fragmented. About 6.8 million of them remain within Syrian borders and around the same amount are settling in neighboring countries like Turkey and Jordan or seeking refuge across Europe.

As Syria’s public services struggle to cope with the ongoing tensions, a rapidly changing climate is compounding food shortages due to drought-like weather conditions. As a result, nearly all Syrians live below the poverty line, making it extremely difficult for communities to rebuild their broken lives.

The Spectre of Assad’s Housing Crisis

In the process of destroying Syrian public infrastructure, Assad’s forces systematically targeted homes, schools, family businesses and hospitals within rebel-controlled areas. This process incurred a significant housing crisis that impacts many of the struggles the population faces daily.

A 2019 United Nations (U.N.) assessment mapped the true scale of the destruction through satellite imagery, finding that 140,000 buildings were destroyed or severely impacted by the attacks. Highly populated cities like Aleppo, Damascus and Homs have emerged as the most affected. With estimated damages totaling between $250 to $400 billion, it has become clear that the road to Syria’s long-term rehabilitation requires immediate and cost-effective solutions due to the damages left in the shadows of war.

As a result, Syria now faces the risk of entering a new era marked by property-based retaliation and social fragmentation. Without a well-coordinated housing policy to protect the population, this critical moment in the nation’s pursuit of long-term peace and security could be lost.

3D-Printed Shelters

In light of these growing challenges, 3D concrete printing is emerging as a promising solution for building more durable shelters in refugee camps. These structures offer longer lifespans and greater resilience against the harsh desert climate. By producing “layer-by-layer complex geometries” using cement with impressive speed and precision, building 3D-printed concrete shelters provides better safety from damage than previous structures. It enhances long-term stability and efficiency and improves thermal insulation and privacy for those most in need.

For instance, around 80,000 Syrian refugees are based in Zaatari and Azraq in neighboring Jordan. The current shelters can often cause serious health problems for occupants due to water leakage and air penetration and only have a two to four-year lifespan. With the introduction of 3D concrete printing techniques, these technologies are not only emerging as safer and more cost-effective, but the use of contour crafting is enabling the construction of larger-scale shelters that can last up to 30 years with far less waste.

Conclusion

At a time of great change, building 3D-printed shelters provides innovative ways of supporting Syrians displaced due to the conflict. With an economy ravaged by war and the mismanagement of public resources, these technologies could play a significant role in rebuilding Syrian infrastructure.

– Gabriel John Gunn

Gabriel is based in Paisley, Scotland and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Palliative Peace: Cancer Patients in Syria

Cancer in SyriaThe consequences of war are immense; it impacts every aspect of life, from transportation to crop cultivation and the ash and smoke of conflict taints everything. Countrysides are ravaged, cities are turned to rubble and families are displaced, but all that is widely known; however, what is not frequently discussed is the systematic harm.

For 13 years, Syria was plagued by a violent civil war and during this time, people who had cancer found themselves in a precarious situation. Oncology institutions suffered from scarce supplies, staff and necessary medical equipment. Even in the developed world, cancer remains a prominent reason for mortality. With conflict, this issue is exacerbated and worsened.

Challenges

War affects every aspect of ontology care. For one, the ability of patients to continue financing treatment is hindered. Despite the abundance of humanitarian assistance and aid programs, many Syrians experience severe financial distress, with social support, medical insurance frameworks and affordable treatment being conspicuously absent. This burden results in treatment costs exceeding 40% of a household’s capacity to pay. However, this matter is intensified by the number of internally displaced persons living in the territories of the Idleb and Aleppo governorates. It is a structural predicament, derived from the base of all institutions being shaken by the roar of artillery.

It’s not just patients who suffer; the oncology institutions are also affected. Supplies are limited due to the logistical challenges caused by the conflict. Most advanced oncology centers are concentrated in major cities, making it extremely difficult for people in other parts of the country to access essential care. The Al-Bayrouni center in Damascus is responsible for a significant portion of care; further, such an institution is the only location in the country able to address thyroid care. Uncommon cancers can only be treated in specialized departments, which are only present in specified localities.

Confounding factors, such as cost, location and scarcity, combine to worsen the effects of cancer. These barriers prevent patients from accessing essential palliative care, allowing the disease to progress unchecked. As a result, mortality rates rise, with early-stage cancers advancing rapidly to more severe stages. Between 2019 and 2022, 61% of cancer patients in Syria were stage III or above at diagnosis, which exemplifies the issue. Even at the conception of care, the ailment is too far developed for adequate and affordable remedies, making the process easy to ameliorate.

Solutions and Aftermath

The abdication of Bashar Al-Assad has induced a dramatic shift in the domestic conditions of Syria. The underlying conditions for many of the present maledictions abated with the presence of the new administration. The newfound peace rectifies issues derived from logistical limitations; roads no longer carry the burden of armed militants and paramilitary organizations, which means that both individuals can travel with relative ease and supplies can be rendered more efficiently.

In an important administrative step, the debt of Syria has been paid for by the Gulf States, thereby allowing for additional loans from the World Bank. This exciting opportunity heralds the possibility for the revitalization of infrastructure, such as medical institutions, roads and state-sponsored welfare programs. The creation of a robust framework is not possible and, in topological terminology, a base capable of holding additional structures is now present.

If these corrections are implemented, the people of Syria will benefit greatly. Tangible societal changes could make medical care in Syria more affordable, reducing mortality rates and giving low-income populations access to essential cancer treatment. Affordable health care is a cornerstone for survival; it creates a healthier, more productive population capable of working, saving and contributing to the economy. As the conflict subsides, medical institutions could be revitalized through international support, domestic stability and strengthened oncology infrastructure.

Conclusion

Many of the challenges rooted in the conflict may begin to ease as a transitional state takes shape, fostering a fragile but hopeful peace. This shift will directly benefit people with low incomes, who will gain access to a developing market capable of meeting critical health care needs. Additionally, the rate of brain drain is likely to fall, allowing for a stable labor force. A new horizon is emerging, with a bright future dawning over a land once shrouded in darkness.

– Jackson Hufman

Jackson is based in Glenwood, MD, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Economic Conditions in Syria After International Sanction Relief

A Look at Economic Conditions in Syria After Sanction Relief Despite continued instability, reinvestment initiatives increased in Syria after international sanction relief. The Syrian civil war has entangled the country since 2011, causing significant loss of life, mass emigration and destruction of the nation’s security and development. Before the conflict, poverty in Syria was 33%. However, it has almost tripled to 90% in 2025. Furthermore, extreme poverty is six times higher than before the conflict, going from 11% to 60%.

On May 21, 2025, the European Union (EU) announced its decision to lift its economic sanctions on Syria. On May 23, 2025, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued the Syria General License (GL) 25, authorising transactions previously prohibited by the Syrian Sanctions Regulations. 

Alongside this, the U.S. State Department issued a 180-day waiver of the Caesar Act, effectively lifting sanctions until a bipartisan bill is passed through Congress repealing the act completely. The sanctions existed as a result of human rights violations from the Syrian Assad regime, which was removed from power six months prior. Since the U.S. and EU lifted sanctions on Syria, the country has experienced increased reinvestment in infrastructure and businesses.

Background: Syria’s Long Conflict and Economic Toll

The Syrian Civil War began in 2011, when Arab Spring protests erupted across the nation against the Assad regime. By September that year, it had developed into a militarised conflict. The Civil War consisted of multiple campaigns, including both violence between the government and opposition forces, in addition to coalition efforts against Islamic state forces. Moreover, Turkish operations against Syrian Kurds introduced further conflict. On 8 Dec. 2024, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces, supported by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, deposed Bashar al-Assad during a major offensive in Damascus.

The Assad family had been in power for 54 years, with Bashar al-Assad succeeding after his father’s death in 2000. Human rights violations, mass atrocities and war crimes characterised the family’s authoritarian rule. Despite his ousting, war continues to flog the country. In a report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), an estimated that $800 billion in GDP has been lost over 14 years of conflict.

Finance Sector Shows Signs of Recovery

In spite of current conflicts in the country, Syria continues to show small signs of economic rejuvenation. After a six-month closure, the Damascus Securities Exchange reopened on June 2, 2025, as the transitional government attempted to bolster the economy in Syria after international sanction relief. On June 17, 2025, Syria announced that the country had completed its first electronic transfer in 14 years with a European bank. The SWIFT system is a global network for electronic transfers between banks, showing that in the wake of recent sanction reliefs, Syria is taking steps back into the international market and community.

The governor of Syria’s Central Bank, Abdulkader Husrieh, said in a statement: “This step represents gradual progress toward reintegrating the Syrian financial system into global financial channels.” 

New Energy Deal Aims to Revive Power Infrastructure

Syria’s 14-year civil war utterly ravaged its power grid, leaving people in daily bouts of blackouts, which can last upwards of 20 hours. Furthermore, the fighting has damaged 70% of power plants and transmission lines, causing a fall in energy production by 80%. On May 29, 2025, the Syrian transitional government signed a $7 billion energy deal with a consortium of Qatari, Turkish and U.S. companies to reinvest and revive Syria’s war-decimated power sector. The consortium, led by Qatar’s UCC Concession Investments, aims to generate 5,000 megawatts of energy as well as create more than 50,000 direct and 250,000 indirect jobs.

Using U.S. and European technology, developments include four gas-powered plants in central and eastern Syria and a 1,000-megawatt solar farm in the south. The U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, said: “This agreement represents a landmark step in Syria’s path to reconstruction and energy security. “This consortium will promote  stability, infrastructure development and economic recovery and deliver tangible results for the Syrian people.”

Oil Exports Resume After Years of Sanctions

Syria’s crude oil is typically ‘heavy’ and has a high sulphur content, requiring alternative refinery methods. This made the Syrian economy more dependent on crude oil and gas exports to foreign markets, typically EU markets, accounting for 25% of government income. According to the European Commission, European countries imported more than $3 billion worth of oil from Syria in 2011. Overall, Syria produced 383,000 barrels of oil and 316 million cubic feet of natural gas every day.

Sanctions placed on Syria by the EU, as well as other countries, limited the number of markets available to export to and process Syrian oil. This resulted in a shrinkage of government revenue and worsening of impoverished conditions. On June 18, 2025, Syria resumed exports of refined petroleum products from its main refinery located in Banias after months of closure.

The restarting of oil exports follows the deposition of Bashar al-Assad, as well as interruptions of crude oil supplies from Iran. The state-owned Syria Trading Oil Company (Sytrol) announced that an initial cargo of 30,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products departed from the Banias refinery for foreign markets. It marks an important development in restoring the petroleum industry in Syria after international sanction reliefs.

World Bank Project to Rebuild Regional Power Links

On June 24, 2025, the World Bank approved the Syria Electricity Emergency Project (SEEP), which will restore Syria’s regional connectivity to Jordan and Türkiye through the revival of high-voltage transmission lines, including two vital high-voltage interconnector transmission lines. Likewise, it will repair damaged high-voltage transformer substations near demand centres in the most impacted areas and provide technical assistance and investment plans to inform policy and regulatory reforms for long-term sustainability.

In a statement about SEEP, H.E. Yisr Barnieh, the Minister of Finance at the World Bank, said. “Electricity is a foundational investment for economic progress, service delivery and livelihoods. “This is the first World Bank project in Syria in almost four decades. We hope it will lay the ground for a comprehensive and structured support program to help Syria on its path to recovery and long-term development.”

Looking Ahead

Overall, recent events in Syria suggest that the country is heading down the right path in certain regards. While the country continues to contend with instability from both its transitional government and forces who are still in combat, it has shown resolve and strides of change in Syria after international sanction relief.

Abdallah Al Dardari, the UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States, said: “Syria’s future hinges on a robust development recovery approach. This demands a comprehensive strategy addressing governance reform, economic stabilisation, sector revitalisation, infrastructure rebuilding and strengthened social services. By implementing these interconnected reforms, we can help Syria regain control over its future, reduce reliance on external aid and pave the way for a resilient and prosperous future for all in Syria.”

– Samuel Devine

Samuel is based in Cardiff, Wales and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr