Humanitarian needs in Syria remain immense despite a year of reduced violence and political change, with millions still displaced, basic services strained and funding shortfalls threatening aid operations, senior UN officials said on Thursday.
Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council , Rosemary DiCarlo, head of UN political affairs, and Joyce Msuya, Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, said Syrians have made tangible progress over the past year.
However, the country's recovery - following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 - remains fragile and uneven, requiring sustained international support.
Millions returning, millions more in need
One of the clearest signs of change, UN officials said, has been the large-scale return of displaced Syrians. More than two million people displaced inside the country have gone back to their areas of origin, while over 1.3 million refugees have returned from neighbouring countries.
"Two million people displaced within Syria have returned - many after living for years in camps, in precarious conditions," Ms. Msuya said.
But many returnees are coming back to damaged or destroyed homes, with limited access to electricity, water, healthcare or jobs. Millions more remain displaced, with many families hesitant to return due to the lack of housing and services, especially during the winter months.
As a result, humanitarian assistance remains critical, even as the UN seeks to gradually reduce one of its largest aid operations worldwide.
Aid operations under pressure
Ms. Msuya said the UN has been able to streamline its humanitarian response over the past year, reaching about 3.4 million people per month - 25 per cent more than last year - despite lower funding.
However, she warned that the humanitarian appeal for 2025 is only about 30 per cent funded, forcing difficult prioritisation decisions and leaving millions without assistance.
"With the scale of the needs and the time required for development efforts to take hold, we also need support to sustain and expand humanitarian assistance in the near term," she said.
She noted that the easing of sanctions by several countries has helped facilitate procurement and financial transactions for aid operations and could support Syria's longer-term recovery if sustained.
UN support for Syria: At a glance
- Political transition: The UN continues to support a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned political process in line with Security Council resolutions 2254 and 2799 .
- Security Council engagement: In December 2025, the Security Council visited Damascus , meeting authorities, civil society and affected communities to show solidarity and bolster prospects of a better future.
- Rights, justice and accountability: UN-appointed rights panels have been supporting investigations and providing technical assistance to address impunity.
- Humanitarian assistance: UN agencies continue to deliver lifesaving food, health, shelter and protection assistance nationwide.
- Returns and recovery: The UN is backing safe, voluntary refugee returns and advocating for the removal of barriers to reconstruction and economic recovery .
