Nearly 19 Million Syrians in need of humanitarian aid – UN official
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, said on Tuesday that nearly 19 million Syrians remain in need of humanitarian assistance.
Speaking at a press conference in Damascus before concluding his mission, Abdelmoula reviewed the U.N.’s work in Syria, its priorities, and future plans to strengthen the humanitarian response and support recovery and development, according to Syrian state-run news agency SANA.
He explained that 16.5 million people inside Syria require assistance, in addition to 2.5 million returnees, including internally displaced persons and refugees returning from abroad, many of whom find their homes destroyed.
“Syria is still suffering from a displacement crisis,” Abdelmoula said, noting that more than six million Syrians remain displaced within the country and another six million live as refugees worldwide.
He also highlighted that approximately 24 percent of Syrian homes have been damaged or destroyed in recent years, while funding for recovery efforts remains “very scarce.”
So far, the 2025 humanitarian response plan has received only 14 percent of the $3.2 billion required to meet Syria’s urgent needs, he added.
Reflecting on his tenure, Abdelmoula noted, “I first came to Syria as resident coordinator in 2012 during a very difficult period. At that time, I made the decision to halt all development activities so that the former regime would not benefit from them or exploit them politically.”