The world’s attention is understandably captivated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the intensifying Israel-Hamas conflict. Both of these conflicts are deeply-linked with the priorities and concerns of the West. The crisis in Ukraine is keeping Europe on its toes. The one in Israel and Palestine is subject to the United States’ fancy ahead of presidential elections.
While these raging issues continue to hog headlines and public discourse, other grave crises remains tragically overlooked. The Syrian civil war is one of these. A recent statement by Matthew Saltmarsh, United Nations refugee agency spokesperson sums it up thus: “Back in 2015, Syrian refugees dominated the headlines as they moved in search of safety. Sadly, they no longer command that attention, and their plight seems to have been relegated.”
Now in its 14th year, the Syrian conflict continues to wreak havoc on the nation’s population, causing widespread suffering and a dire need for humanitarian assistance.
We take an in-depth look at the current situation in Syria, providing a detailed overview of the civil war, the current geopolitical landscape, and the worsening humanitarian crisis there.
The Syrian civil war: An overview
The Syrian civil war began in 2011, following protests against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. These protests quickly escalated into a multifaceted conflict involving numerous domestic and international actors. Initially, the conflict was marked by a struggle between government forces and various opposition groups.
A popular uprising against President Bashar Assad’s rule that later spiraled into an insurgency and civil war. AP
However, it soon evolved into a complex proxy war with regional and global powers vying for influence.
President Assad’s government, bolstered by military support from Russia and Iran, now controls approximately two-thirds of the country. Russian airstrikes and Iranian militias have played a key role in recapturing significant territories from rebel forces.
Meanwhile, various opposition groups, some backed by Turkey and other international actors, maintain control over parts of the northern and northwestern regions. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by the US, control areas in northeastern Syria. They are often targeted by Turkish military operations due to Ankara’s concerns over Kurdish autonomy movements. Despite being significantly weakened, remnants of the Islamic State (IS) continue to operate in desert regions, conducting sporadic attacks, according to Council of Foreign Relations.
The US maintains a presence in Syria, primarily to prevent a resurgence of IS. Russia and Iran provide crucial support to Assad’s regime, while Turkey’s operations target both Kurdish forces and IS militants. Additionally, Israel frequently conducts airstrikes against Iranian-linked targets in Syria, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.
Efforts to reach a diplomatic resolution have been largely unsuccessful. UN-backed Geneva peace talks and Russia-initiated Astana talks have failed to achieve lasting peace. The conflict continues to evolve, with low-level violence and tensions persisting across the country.
Impact of Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars on Syria
The ongoing war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict have further strained Syria’s already dire situation. The global focus and resources are diverted to these new crises, leaving Syria’s humanitarian needs severely underfunded. The UN estimates that 16.7 million Syrians require humanitarian assistance, a figure exacerbated by the 2023 earthquakes that devastated northern Syria.
The global economic repercussions of the Ukraine war, including soaring food and fuel prices, have compounded Syria’s economic woes. The World Food Programme, heavily reliant on Ukrainian grain, faces severe shortages, impacting food security in Syria, according to Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP). Additionally, increased regional tensions have led to more frequent airstrikes by Israel on Iranian targets in Syria, further destabilising the region. Iran-backed militias have also escalated attacks on US positions in Syria in response to the Gaza conflict.
The humanitarian crisis
The humanitarian situation in Syria is dire, with various reports highlighting the severe lack of resources and aid. The healthcare system is in ruins, severely impacted by years of conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the February 2023 earthquakes. According to Al Jazeera, there are only three oncologists for a population of 5.1 million, and hospitals are overwhelmed with patients, particularly children. Health services, already largely dependent on chronically underfunded NGOs, are now at risk of collapse due to the threat of significant aid cuts.
Nearly 90 per cent of Syrian families live in poverty. The ongoing economic crisis is worsening the situation, particularly affecting female-headed households and contributing to the normalisation of gender-based violence and child exploitation.
Impact on children
Children are among the most vulnerable. UNICEF reports that nearly 7.5 million Syrian children need humanitarian assistance. Many are at risk of malnutrition, lack of education, and exploitation. Forced labour and early marriages are increasing as families struggle to survive. The educational system has been decimated, with schools destroyed or repurposed for military use, severely disrupting children’s education. The lack of educational opportunities has long-term implications for the country’s future.
The Syrian civil war has had a drastic effect on children. Image courtesy: UNICEF
Denial of humanitarian access
Both the Syrian government and opposition forces have obstructed aid deliveries, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. In Aleppo, earthquake aid was blocked, increasing the suffering of displaced persons. The situation is particularly dire in Kurdish-controlled areas, where essential supplies are restricted. Following the February 2023 earthquakes, aid deliveries to Kurdish-majority neighbourhoods in Aleppo were delayed, worsening the situation.
The obstruction of aid has dire consequences. Civilians are deprived of basic necessities, including food, water, and medical care. The denial of humanitarian access is a violation of international humanitarian law and has been condemned by various human rights organisations.
Underfunded aid and healthcare collapse
The UNHCR has received only a fraction of its funding needs. As of March 2024, VOA quoted Saltmarsh as saying that just 6 per cent of the $466.6 million appeal to aid displaced Syrians has been met, forcing agencies to make difficult choices about prioritising aid recipients. The decline in funding has forced UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies to make difficult choices about what and who to prioritise, risking pushing children into labour, gender-based violence, early marriages, and school dropouts.
Healthcare services in Syria are severely underfunded and overstretched. The situation has worsened following the February 2023 earthquakes, which further damaged already fragile healthcare infrastructure. The lack of medical professionals, medication, and equipment is dire. Hundreds of people are on waiting lists to receive prosthetics and assistive devices after being seriously injured by the war and the earthquake. Many families struggle to pay for transportation to access free health services.
Forced disappearances and arbitrary detentions
Human rights violations remain rampant. Amnesty International and the UN Commission of Inquiry have documented widespread arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances by the Syrian government and other actors. Tens of thousands of individuals, including journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers, and political activists, remain unaccounted for. The Syrian government continues to use enforced disappearances as a tool of repression, with many detainees held incommunicado and subjected to torture.
Fadwa Mahmoud holds portraits of her son and husband, who disappeared in Syria in 2012, in Berlin, Germany. File image/Reuters
Opposition groups, including the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda-affiliated armed group controlling much of the Idlib governorate, also engage in arbitrary detentions and human rights abuses. Journalists, activists, and anyone who criticises HTS rule are subjected to detention without access to legal representation or family contact.
The plight of Syrian civilians
The everyday lives of Syrians are marked by uncertainty, fear, and hardship. The compounded effects of war, natural disasters, and economic collapse have left millions in a state of perpetual crisis. The majority of Syrian families live in poverty, and many have resorted to negative coping mechanisms to survive. Children are particularly vulnerable, facing malnutrition, lack of education, and exploitation.
The psychological impact of prolonged conflict on Syrians is profound. Many have witnessed violence, lost family members, and experienced displacement multiple times. The mental health crisis is an often overlooked but critical aspect of the humanitarian response needed. People are suffering from trauma and anxiety, and there is a severe lack of mental health services to support them.
Call for increased humanitarian assistance
The international community must not forget Syria. There is an urgent need for increased humanitarian assistance to address the multiple crises facing the country. More funding is needed to support health services, education, food security, and basic infrastructure. The UN and various humanitarian organisations have repeatedly called for increased funding and support, emphasising that the Syrian crisis remains one of the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian emergencies.