Oxfam warns of deepening humanitarian crisis in post-war Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Oxfam warned on Tuesday that despite the end of Syria’s civil war in late 2024, the country remains gripped by one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with more than 16 million people—over 70 percent of the population—now in need of assistance.
The organization said nearly nine million Syrians are acutely food insecure as years of severe drought, insecurity, and the collapse of agricultural production continue to undermine food supplies.
Ninety percent of Syrians now live below the poverty line. Reconstruction efforts remain slow, hindered by widespread damage to water networks, schools, hospitals, and homes, as well as the dangerous presence of unexploded ordnance, which has killed or injured more than 1,300 people this year, the British organization added.
Oxfam, a global organization that fights inequality to end poverty and injustice headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, noted that while nearly one million former refugees and 1.9 million internally displaced people (IDPs) have returned to their areas of origin, almost 7 million remain displaced. Many are returning to areas devastated by 14 years of war and the 2023 earthquake.
The organization warned that abrupt U.S. aid cuts early in the transition period have left humanitarian groups with reduced capacity to respond. Several Oxfam partners, expecting continued U.S. support, are now facing severe funding gaps.
Ongoing insecurity, Oxfam indicated, continues to trigger new displacement and delay the rebuilding of essential services.
The organization called for sustained international support to stabilize communities and enable Syrians to restart livelihoods, rebuild infrastructure, and regain access to education and healthcare.
Despite political changes in Damascus, Syria’s recovery is constrained by economic collapse, climate-driven drought, and chronic insecurity. Aid groups say long-term engagement is essential to prevent further deterioration.