A new dawn for Syria: Navigating hope, challenges, and rebuilding 

Islamic Relief’s Humanitarian Advocacy Advisor, Aman Soufi, has spent years monitoring the crisis in her native Syria, highlighting the dire humanitarian needs, the obstacles aid agencies face in trying to meet them and the action needed to ease suffering. Today, for the first time since the change in government, she sets out how the international community can support Syria to rebuild and address the needs of the millions of Syrians affected by the 14-year crisis. 

On December 8 2024 at 6:18 am, Syrians awoke to an unimaginable greeting: “Good morning, Syria, for the first time without Assad.” These words, broadcast on the national Syrian Radio, left listeners in disbelief. The magnitude of this change felt almost unreal. 

As a Syrian, I could hardly believe it myself. My first instinct was to call my family and friends back home. But, while sharing in their joy, I was also anxiously following news updates to confirm if this change of power had truly happened peacefully, as was being reported, or if the media – as so often happens – had somehow obscured the reality.  

Syrians worldwide are celebrating the end of a regime responsible for massive bloodshed and suffering. Fourteen years of crisis have left Syria in ruins. It will be a struggle to rise from the ashes. Yet, there is hope that this change marks the start of a brighter future—one of healing and reunification for millions of Syrians scattered across the globe. I certainly hope so!  

As we look ahead into the post-Assad era, we know that this fragile new chapter carries immense challenges and risks. Here are the urgent priorities and needs that must be addressed to help Syria navigate this pivotal phase: 

• International governments must ensure and facilitate the scale-up of humanitarian assistance and economic investment 

The ongoing economic collapse, fuelled by hyperinflation and currency depreciation, has left vulnerable families, businesses, and aid agencies struggling, with only 31% of the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan funded. Immediate, sustained, and flexible funding is urgently needed, but international sanctions and Syria’s isolation from global banking systems make this nearly impossible. 

Without access to international banks and platforms like PayPal or Western Union, international transactions are delayed or even blocked, hindering critical aid such as winterisation and emergency health services. I remember how online shopping and global connectivity were foreign concepts when I lived in Syria – we were isolated from the world, and this remains the case.  

Sanctions can be an important political tool, but must not harm vulnerable civilians and exacerbate poverty. Lifting sanctions and reconnecting Syria’s banking sector to the international financial system is a vital step to ending this isolation and enabling both humanitarian assistance and economic recovery. 

• The process of building a new state must be led by the Syrian people, but the needs are enormous and they will need support from the international community 

Syria’s infrastructure is in ruins, with 70% of essential systems such as water, electricity, and sanitation severely damaged. Public services are shattered: 38% of hospitals and 47% of healthcare centres are non-functional, over 5,200 schools have been destroyed, and 3 million children are out of school. Power outages restrict households to a few hours of electricity each day. 

Reconstruction, the costs of which will now far exceed the $6.3–$8.5 billion estimated by World Bank in 2022, must prioritise healthcare, education, and energy, focusing on local communities. A community-driven approach and the expertise of the Syrian diaspora are vital for rebuilding with dignity, resilience, and stability. 

• Refugees and returnees confront devastation and uncertainty 

Syria remains one of the world’s largest displacement crises, with over 14 million refugees and more than 7.2 million people internally displaced. While many wish to return, for others, there is little to go back to;  homes destroyed, loved ones lost, and few functioning services.

Many cities lack the necessary infrastructure to support returnees, and areas including Aleppo’s suburbs, Homs, Raqqa, and Eastern Ghouta remain devastated and largely uninhabitable due to years of crisis. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has called for “patience and vigilance” in repatriation, stressing that refugees should only return when they feel safe, and in line with international law and standards on refugee protection.  

• Syria’s path to recovery: Prioritising protection, justice, and social cohesion  

We must reflect on the lessons of the Arab Spring and how international actors have shaped Syria’s crisis, driven by their own interests. 

Swiftly establishing a stable, inclusive interim government is crucial to prevent factionalism and further instability. Syria’s political transition must prioritise civilian protection, rebuilding critical infrastructure, and ensuring unhindered humanitarian aid. Strengthening the government’s capacity for emergency response and promoting justice and accountability is essential, with adequate funding for mechanisms like International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM, a UN organisation that assists in the investigation and prosecution of serious international crimes in Syria).  

Over 130,000 people have been detained, abducted, or have gone missing in Syria since 2011. Urgent efforts are required to locate them, reunite families, and preserve evidence for justice. Mental health support and social cohesion programmes are essential for rebuilding trust and unity. The international community must work with local actors to heal Syria’s fractured society. 

In the face of this uncertainty, Syria desperately needs constructive international support. The pain and trauma we Syrians feel should not define our future; we deserve the chance to heal, rebuild, and reclaim our dignity.  

Local communities within Syria, alongside the Syrian diaspora, carry invaluable knowledge, expertise, and resilience that are vital to driving meaningful change. Now, more than ever, the international community must stand with the Syrian people, offering not just aid, but hope for a future free from the horrors of the past.