Tag Archive for: Poverty in Syria

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The Gender Wage Gap in Syria and the Fight for Empowerment

Gender Wage Gap in SyriaIn Syria, where years of brutal violence and extreme poverty have devastated the nation, women are emerging not only as survivors of conflict, but as architects of their country’s future. Yet, despite the crucial role they now play in the rebuilding process, the gender wage gap in Syria remains a barrier to progress. Syrian women are largely undervalued and underpaid compared to their male counterparts, a reality that only perpetuates the nation’s dire economic situation. 

A Country in Crisis

Many widely regard the Syrian civil war, which began in March 2011, as one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century. Over a decade of fighting led to the displacement of more than 14 million civilians, social and political instability and the collapse of the economy. As of December 2024, an estimated 90% of Syrians lived below the poverty line, and 16.7 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance.

Only on December 8, 2024, after 24 years of oppressive totalitarian rule, did the Assad regime fall at the hands of opposition forces. The conflict claimed the lives of more than 600,000 people, many of them men. Now, with so many killed or displaced, Syrian women are increasingly taking on roles in shaping their families, communities and the future of their country.

A Disproportionate Impact on Women

At the same time, women are facing significant struggles. While the civil war had a negative impact on all Syrians, it disproportionately impacted women in many ways. Increases in sexual and gender-based violence, alongside the destruction of hospitals and clinics, deprived countless women of basic and reproductive health care. In 2023, 3.9% of Syrian girls ages 15-19 gave birth, a statistic that reflects both this limited access to health care and rising rates of early and forced marriage.

Syrian women also face a lack of employment opportunities, and when they do secure jobs, they are often receive less pay than men. Globally, women earn around 77 cents for every dollar that their male counterparts earn. Although comprehensive data on the gender wage gap in Syria is yet to exist, labor force participation rates illustrate the economic disparity: in 2024, it was 62.8% among males compared to only 13.3% among females. These numbers are representative of a wider trend in the Arab world, where women’s access to employment is up to 44% lower than men’s.

Beyond being concerning from a gender equality standpoint, the wage disparity in Syria also has serious, even life-threatening implications for women and their families. 92% of female-headed households report either an insufficient or complete inability to meet their basic needs. Additionally, 74% of the almost 6 million Syrians experiencing food insecurity or malnutrition are women and girls.

The Civil War as a Turning Point

However, suffering does not solely define the story of Syrian women. Amidst violence and desolation, many women stepped out of the home and into new roles, defying long held gender norms and stereotypes. Women found numerous ways to transform their challenges into opportunities by protesting against the Assad regime, finding work to support their families and empowering their daughters to learn to take care of themselves.

One particularly noteworthy individual is Ghalia Rahhal, founder of the Mazaya Center for Women’s Empowerment. Despite an assassination attempt, the murder of her son and sexist opposition, she has never stopped her fight to integrate feminist principles into Syrian laws and practices. By training women in refugee camps on politics and equality, Rahhal is preparing them to become active participants in the transitional and future government of their country. 

Inspired to achieve similar goals, the nonprofit Uplifting Syrian Women seeks to help women and girls obtain better jobs by providing them with free online courses and trainings. The organization aims to close the gender wage gap in Syria by empowering women to enter the workforce and recognize their importance in the country’s rebuilding process.

Why Closing the Gap Matters

Looking forward, there is still much uncertainty surrounding the future of women in Syria. One reality, nevertheless, is that the empowerment of women is economically beneficial for all. As the World Economic Forum reports, increasing women’s workforce participation could boost a country’s economic output by up to 35%. That potential could become a reality as more and more women take an active role in the government and the workforce, helping close the gender wage gap in Syria and lift their country into a better future.

– Caroline Clark

Caroline is based in Needham, MA, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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WHO Advocates Progress for Syrian Women’s Health

Syrian Women’s HealthWith more than 6 million women in need of health support in Syria and ongoing challenges like gender-based health care discrimination, political bias and social inequality, the World Health Organization (WHO) has taken meaningful steps to improve Syrian women’s health. These efforts include mental and physical support for survivors of gender-based violence, health education and the promotion of women’s rights through a more inclusive, mainstream health care network.

Gender-Biased Laws Upon Women in Syria

Extremist groups Jabhat al-Nusra, Islamic State of Iraq and Sham have imposed strict gender-biased laws upon women in Syria. Women have unlawfully become required to wear hijabs and full-length robes and threatened if they do not comply, according to Human Rights Watch. Failure to conform leads to misogynistically charged discrimination, barring girls from attending schools, moving freely in public and working.

Since the onset of the Syrian Civil War and its backlash effects on women, the WHO has championed programs in Syrian women’s health care that offer rehabilitation and education services alongside their advocacy for systemic changes. Since 2018, the WHO has institutionalized routine care for victims of gender-based violence.

Syria’s Health Care System

The prolonged conflict has desecrated approximately half the health care infrastructure in Syria, resulting in a shortage of medicine, facilities, health workers and equipment. More than 100 health facilities in northwest Syria have sustained severe damage and a loss of complete funding. More than 15.9 million people are left in need of health support, including 257,000 pregnant women, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF).

With women making up nearly 50% of Syria’s population and the majority of those displaced in refugee camps, the WHO has launched targeted programs to address their health needs. According to the WHO, these initiatives ensure that “every woman enjoys her right to the highest attainable standard of health.”

Advancing Gender Equality in Syria’s Health System

The WHO base in Syria has “mainstreamed gender equality in its programming.” It assures women the highest standard of care through pregnancy, birth, violence and discrimination. By educating women on how to make informed decisions about their health care, the Syria-based program has made meaningful progress in preventing the rise of mental health issues and gender-based violence.

These efforts empower women with knowledge, helping them protect their well-being and advocate for their rights in a challenging environment. The organization provides essential psychosocial treatments to aid in women’s mental and physical health after facing gender-based violence. According to the WHO team in Syria, these services have been implemented in health facilities around Syria.

The fertility rate in Syria was reported by the WHO at 2.7% per woman in 2021, a reduction from 3.4% recorded in 2010. In light of this, reproductive health care in Syria has been threatened by unjust rulings. The WHO and UNPF support hospitals in northeast Syria by providing natural and c-section births, family planning, nursing and how-to care.

Looking Forward

“As we continue supporting gender mainstreaming in the health sector through research, policy formulation and capacity-building, we draw our inspiration and strength from the women of Syria, who, together with other members of society, drive gender transformative changes in achieving universal health coverage and health for all,” the WHO said.

– Chloe Fox Rinka

Chloe is based in Los Angeles, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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UNICEF and Education in Syria

Education in SyriaSince 2011, the Syrian Civil War has been one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with more than 16 million displaced civilians in dire need of assistance. Violent conflict demolished local infrastructure, further exacerbating the struggles of the Syrian population. While all livelihoods have been dismantled, one group has suffered more than the rest: children. However, this article will dive into the UNICEF education program and how it is helping to slowly rebuild the lives of youth in Syria.

Tragedy Strikes

As noted above, the war in Syria has displaced millions, with almost half being under the age of 18. On the run, without a stable home and constantly fearing for their lives, education is the last priority for these children. To put it bluntly, the conflict has stripped them of a basic human right.

There is soon to be an entire generation of children who never went to school in Syria. Roughly one-third of those who are enrolled do not make it to the end of primary school and more than 7,000 schools have been damaged or destroyed.

More than 2 million children are out of school and of the few classrooms that exist, all are overcrowded and lack basic materials. Teachers are inadequately trained and cannot overcome language barriers and most children face a certain degree of trauma

Modern-day Syria, with its everlasting conflict, has made it nearly impossible for children to receive a quality education, let alone even be enrolled in school. This could have drastic impacts on their cognitive development and future lives, making it nearly impossible to do anything substantial. The children who should have been following their dreams to become doctors, scientists and educators instead had to flee their homes in hopes of survival. However, a glimmer of hope has presented itself in recent years: UNICEF’s Emergency Education Program.

UNICEF Work in Syria

UNICEF established the “Self Learning Program” in Syria to support children who previously had little access to formal education, implementing Curriculum B, a similar program that looks to help students catch up to their peers, creating new classrooms across the country and training a host of new educators

The mission has been successful thus far, as more than 350,000 “out-of-school children have enrolled in Self-Learning Program or Curriculum B activities across Syria, 97% of the four-year program goal.”

UNICEF’s program has supported thousands of children in Syria, and even more across the world.

– Josh Weinstein

Josh is based in Chester Springs, PA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Levant Startups Drive Innovation Amid Instability

levant startups Levant startups are reimagining how innovation can emerge in crisis-prone economies. Despite widespread poverty and instability, entrepreneurs in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine are launching ventures that tackle problems in education, finance and basic services. These efforts are fostering grassroots economic resilience and drawing attention to a region long underestimated by global observers.

Background

As of 2024, poverty in the Levant region remained high. Poverty affects 44% of Lebanese, 69% of Syrians, 24.1% of Jordanians and around 74% of Palestinians. Many countries in the Levant region also struggle with acute food insecurity, including 13 million out of 25 million Syrians and 91% of Palestinians. Meanwhile, Lebanon faces widespread malnutrition because of constant shortages of essential food items.

Debt, inflation, wars and unemployment significantly contribute to poverty in the Levant. Female economic participation is still a challenge in the region. In Jordan, the female unemployment rate rose to 33%, standing 11% higher than the overall unemployment rate. However, entrepreneurship in the Levant is helping to alter these statistics.

The region has faced ongoing pressures from citizens who are unable to afford necessities and governments with overwhelming amounts of debt. Soaring unemployment and inflation have exacerbated the crisis and rendered many countries unable to rebuild after wars and conflicts. Yet amid these challenges, new startups are tackling local problems by offering practical solutions to problems in the education, finance and food delivery industries, and laying the groundwork for broader economic transformation.

Notable Startups in the Levant

Founded in 2016 by Siroun Shamigian and Nisrine El Makkouk, Kamkalima in Lebanon is an education technology startup that provides a digital curriculum companion for Arabic language education. It offers e-learning modules and assessments for students in grades 4-12. The service also enables teachers to track student progress using advanced data analytics. The founders noticed that Lebanon’s Arabic education system lacked the digital tools needed to bolster students’ Arabic grades, which were consistently low. Kamkalima empowers teachers with data analytics tools to enhance lessons and track students’ progress, while providing students with interactive tools to aid their writing, reading, and listening skills in Arabic.

Large enterprises struggle with transparency, efficiency and data accuracy in a region where invoicing processes are often manual, error-prone, and non-compliant with evolving regulations. A Jordan-based team of seasoned FinTech professionals founded InvoiceQ, an SaaS-based digital invoicing platform that meets the needs of businesses in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Oman. InvoiceQ offers real-time, automated invoicing, with approval workflows, API integrations and two-way customer/vendor integration. The platform enables enhanced decision-making, reduces human error and turns invoicing into a strategic financial tool.

In Syria, infrastructure for digital services like food delivery, e-commerce and mobility was virtually nonexistent until Malek Al-Muzayen established Bee Order. It began as Syria’s first food delivery app. Before Bee Order, restaurants lacked delivery drivers, online ordering was unfamiliar and economic instability made tech development risky. Al-Muzayen built and scaled a local fleet of 150 delivery vehicles, introduced mobile-based ordering, and later launched a ride-hailing app called Wasilni to meet transportation needs.

Levant Startups: Innovation in the Face of Instability

Despite entrenched economic hardships, startups across the Levant are helping communities adapt and thrive. From enhancing Arabic education through Kamkalima, to digitizing financial operations with InvoiceQ, to launching the region’s first food delivery and ride-hailing services via Bee Order and Wasilni, entrepreneurs are responding to local needs with scalable, tech-driven solutions. These ventures reflect a broader shift; young founders are tackling systemic issues with creativity and resourcefulness, even in the context of conflict and economic instability.

Other promising ventures include Tajir.Store, a Syrian e-commerce platform helping businesses to automate their online store operations, and Rocheta, a health care app that connects patients with pharmacies to have medications delivered to their homes. Together, these startups are weaving a grassroots foundation for more inclusive economic participation and long-term resilience in the region. As they continue to grow, they are not only meeting immediate needs but also laying the groundwork for broader transformation in education, finance, commerce and mobility.

– Haley Parilla

Haley is based in Cape Coral, FL, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Rebuilding of Eastern Ghouta

eastern ghoutaEastern Ghouta, a region in Syria previously bombarded with attacks from Syrian Government forces, has finally become accessible for humanitarian aid and support groups following the collapse of the Assad Regime in December 2024. While there is still quite a way to go, several key organizations have proven hugely significant for the reconstruction initiatives within the area that focus not only on aid for civilians but also the surrounding infrastructure and agriculture.

Syrian Civil War

The Syrian Revolution in March 2011 involved large-scale protests across the country, fuelled by popular discontent for the Assad regime. Bashar al-Assad took power in 2000 after his father, Hafez al-Assad, died, and promised to bring a new era of rule to Syria, modernizing the economy and “launching [their] own democratic experience.” However, modernization came at the cost of the well-being of the population. While he promised to move away from the “Arab socialism” that had previously defined the Ba’athist regime, favoring a market-controlled rather than state-controlled economy, it remained that it only benefited the well-connected few.

Separation and privatization to dismantle ubiquitous state rule was done through the deregulation of economic activity rather than the outright sale of public sector enterprises, causing greater instability in pricing and market values that motivated many new private investments into the economy. It was this private sector stimulation that ultimately resulted in the “mushrooming” of private sectors in Syria, such as healthcare, education and banking. State-regulated price ceilings and subsidies gradually phased out, and social stratification became increasingly prevalent as public sector employment shrunk while the cost of living rose exponentially.

Following a drought from 2006 to 2010, socioeconomic inequality hit a record high. The rural population, unable to make a living from unusable farmland, migrated to cities and caused the unemployment rate to soar further.Popular discontent was at its peak, and with the wider Arabian population partaking in the uprising Arab Spring movement, Syria too was inspired and formally began their protests in March 2011.

The Conflict

The Syrian civil war, up until the collapse of the regime, was a complicated conflict with many different sides and proxies operating on different axes that did not only focus on government supporters and opposition. However, the conflict can ultimately be broken down into three sects: the Syrian rebels (and their backers Turkey, Gulf Arab states, the US and Jordan), the Syrian Government (and their backers Russia, Iran, Hezbollah and Shia Muslim militias) and ISIS/ISIL. The rebels and Syrian Government forces fought each other, however, both sides also fought ISIS, who used the conflict to justify the expansion of their territory to create a singular caliphate state across the wider Islamic region.

Eastern Ghouta Region

At the turn of the revolution, Syrian rebel forces quickly set up strongholds in major regions across Syria, with Eastern Ghouta becoming one in November 2012. Because of its proximity to the capital city Damascus, Eastern Ghouta was a hugely geographically significant and advantageous position for the rebels and remained one of the last rebel strongholds until 2018, when Syrian Government forces reclaimed the area.

Eastern Ghouta was bombarded with numerous forms of attack throughout its time as a rebel-occupied area. In the early hours of August 21, 2013, it witnessed a chemical weapons attack, specifically a nerve agent called Sarin, that, along with Western Ghouta, resulting in 1,017 deaths, 989 of which were civilians, out of which 308 were women and 122 children.

In the final weeks before the government recaptured the region, the offensive claimed the lives of 1,473 civilians, including 301 children and 185 women. This “all-out campaign,” with the support of Russia, was the final attack that caused the stronghold to collapse, with evacuations taking place throughout March 2018 until April 12, when the Syrian Government declared the control of the area.

MSF Providing Support

Following the collapse of the Assad regime, humanitarian groups have been working relentlessly to restore the region, providing numerous grants to support the rebuilding of the necessary infrastructure. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is one of the humanitarian groups that has been working particularly closely with the region since the beginning of the conflict, where initially only remote support could be provided due to being denied onsite access to the region by government forces. Following a visit in February 2025, the region “shows little signs of normalcy [and] Eastern Ghouta’s suffering is far from over” and needs urgent support now. However, the organization is making significant progress, operating mobile clinics to tend to basic healthcare needs, consultations, and mental health support and, as of February 2025, has tended to 576 patients, including 77 children under 5 years old.

MSF calls the time “a new chapter of hope” as several of its teams operate both in the Eastern Ghouta region and further afield across Syria to ensure the people gain the healthcare needed. During the Syrian Civil War, MSF originally remotely supported 20 clinics operating in the region. However, as the conflict progressed, this reduced to none either due to abandonment or former government forces taking over the area. Now that the mobile clinics have returned to operation, there seems to be a rekindled sense of life and relief to the people of Eastern Ghouta; “despite what they have seen, people are still able to smile,” said Bilal Alsarakibi, MSF’s medical adviser.

Danish Refugee Council

On the infrastructure side of the reconstruction efforts, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) grants have proved hugely significant. The conflict caused severe physical damage, such as once fertile fields left dry and barren and water wells broken and contaminated. However, the DRC tells the story of a Syrian man named Samer who took to reviving the greenery of the region and bringing it back to its former beauty: “I want the next generation to grow surrounded by greenery, not the crisis’ leftovers.”

As part of the larger Syrian Resilience Consortium (SRC), the DRC provided grants to build water collection pools and install solar panels, allowing for both agricultural and electricity sustainable practices to take shape in the area. Furthermore, multiple donors within the DRC have supported the Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) program to provide financial support to families in need in the area.

Closing Remarks

While the Assad Regime may have fallen, hardship is still far from over in Syria. Such is the religious and territorial diversity in the country, appointing new leadership for the long term could inevitably cause some tension. However, with the support of humanitarian groups and foreign aid grants gradually uplifting the spirit of the people can be a success story. This is undoubtedly one of the most important objectives in Syria to ensure a community that can come together to grow from their long history of conflict and welcome a new era not only politically, but also socially and economically.

– Helena Pryce

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

Photo: Flickr

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The IRC Improving Mental Health in Syria

mental health in syriaAfter 13 years of civil conflict, President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December 2024 by a lightning insurgency organized by the Islamist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which put an end to his family’s more than 50-year rule. As soldiers loyal to Assad and those opposed to his government clash, along with Jihadist extremists from the Islamic State, more than 14 million people have been displaced from their homes.

Humanitarian Crisis

The prolonged civil conflict has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, and many of the survivors live in appalling conditions and struggle with mental health illnesses, including depression, anxiety and hopelessness.

The humanitarian situation within Syria is extremely serious as well. More than 13 years after the catastrophe started, millions of people have experienced repeated displacement and are dealing with psychological and physical trauma that has changed their lives. Critical infrastructure has sustained significant damage as a result of conflict, severely restricting access to necessary services.

More than 90% of the population is now living in poverty as a result of a collapsing economy, which also forces families to choose between healthcare, education, and food.

The IRC Improving Mental Health in Syria

The changing circumstances also give Syrian refugees in nearby nations a glimmer of optimism that they will one day return to their home regions, according to the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Notwithstanding the most recent events in Syria, any talk regarding the return of refugees must remain focused on the necessity that they be voluntary, secure and supported by the provision of all the information necessary for them to make wise decisions regarding their futures.

In a refugee camp in northeastern Syria, Samia provides counseling services to displaced individuals and their families at a mental health clinic that the IRC established, BBC reports. She focuses on raising awareness in crises and enhancing her patients’ mental health despite the limited resources. The IRC has been working in Syria since 2012 and currently has more than 1,000 employees there who offer safety, early recovery assistance, and life-saving medical care.

Samia provides essential counseling services to displaced individuals and their families at a refugee camp in northeastern Syria while working at an IRC mental health clinic, the IRC reports.

She is steadfast in her resolve to enhance her patient’s mental health and increase public awareness of mental health issues despite her low resources. Her personal experience and her conviction that mental health support is essential to post-crisis recovery drive her work with camp inhabitants.

The Future

For Syrians to survive, recover and ultimately regain control over their futures following 13 years of a protracted crisis, the IRC urges all sides to commit to a lasting peace.

In addition to primary, reproductive and mental health services, they offer life-saving medical care, including assistance for medical facilities and mobile health teams that provide vital trauma care. Along with financial aid, early recovery, and support for the development of young children, the IRC also provides counseling and protective services for women and children, especially those who have experienced violence.

It is helping partners in Turkiye provide emergency financial aid, protection and medical treatment to people impacted by the 2023 earthquakes. Additionally, the IRC aids Syrian refugees in nearby nations.

The IRC is unwavering in their resolve to help Syrians in need, wherever they may be, even if the humanitarian needs in Syria are at an all-time high.

– Taylor Naquin

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

Photo: Flickr

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The $6.5 Billion Pledge: Syria’s Recovery Package

Syria's Recovery PackageOn March 17, international donors convened in Brussels and pledged nearly €6 billion (approximately $6.5 billion) in aid to revitalize Syria’s reconstruction efforts following the political transition after President Bashar al-Assad’s departure in December 2024. This financial commitment supports the country’s new leadership as it begins stabilizing and rebuilding after the civil war. The conference also aimed to reaffirm the global community’s commitment to a peaceful and inclusive future for Syria.

Discussions focused not only on physical reconstruction but also on strengthening civil society, expanding access to education and addressing widespread displacement. The event marked a renewed commitment to multilateral collaboration, bringing together more than 60 countries and international organizations to discuss not only funding but also sustainable strategies for Syria’s recovery.

Pledges for Syria’s Recovery Package

The European Commission reported that €4.2 billion (about $4.6 billion) of the pledged amount would be provided as grants, while €1.6 billion (about $1.7 billion) would come as low-interest loans. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU is increasing its pledge to Syrians in the country and the region to almost €2.5 billion (about $2.7 billion) for 2025 and 2026.

Among major donor countries, Germany committed approximately €300 million (about $326 million), with more than half designated for aid within Syria and the remainder for displaced Syrians abroad. The United Kingdom (U.K.), despite reducing its foreign aid budget to 0.3% of GDP, pledged up to $208 million. The United States (U.S.), represented by Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Levant and Syria Natasha Franceschi, did not announce a new pledge, noting its status as the largest contributor to Syrian aid over the past 14 years and indicating that foreign aid commitments are under review.

Context and Challenges

The pledging conference comes at a pivotal time for Syria. The new leadership is tasked with unifying a country fragmented by war. Rebuilding efforts face obstacles, including a shattered economy and infrastructure, with United Nations (U.N.) estimates putting reconstruction costs between $250 billion and $400 billion. Security threats persist. Recent clashes, including an ambush on a Syrian security patrol and retaliatory attacks from supporters of the new government, have resulted in civilian casualties. These ongoing incidents have led some donors to delay investment until more stable conditions are confirmed.

International Community’s Role in Syria

The international community’s pledges demonstrate support for Syria’s transition toward peace and development. President Von der Leyen emphasized the urgency of assistance, stating, “At this critical time, the people of Syria need us more than ever.” However, this year’s total commitment falls short of the €7.5 billion (about $8.1 billion) pledged last year, reflecting financial constraints and competing global priorities.

Syria’s Path Forward

Syria’s recovery potentially depends on efforts to restore essential services, rebuild infrastructure and foster reconciliation among diverse communities. Syria’s recovery package represents an important step in addressing urgent humanitarian needs and laying the groundwork for long-term recovery. Coordination between the Syrian government, international donors and humanitarian organizations could be essential to ensure the transparent, inclusive and effective use of aid.

– Leighton Webber

Leighton is based in London, UK and focuses on 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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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