UN official: Humanitarian crisis still not over in Suwayda and across Syria

By Saad al-Yaziji

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said on Thursday that the humanitarian crisis in Syria, including Suwayda, is far from over.

Speaking during a UN Security Council session on Syria, Griffiths revealed that only 14 percent of international pledges have reached the country so far. “Without additional funding, we will not be able to continue providing our services in Syrian areas,” he warned.

Griffiths underlined the need for more resources to rebuild Syria and to enable the country to move beyond dependency on aid. “We need more funding for Syria’s development and reconstruction, so it can fully dispense with humanitarian assistance. We urgently need support to ensure health care, water, and fuel,” he stated.

The UN official also reported incidents of aid workers coming under fire in Syria, stressing the importance of their protection as humanitarian operations continue under difficult conditions.

Despite calls for aid, limited access and shortfalls in funding remain major challenges for relief agencies. The UN has repeatedly urged donors to fulfill commitments to support vulnerable communities across the country.

The session highlighted the pressing need to sustain humanitarian operations at a time when Syrians in multiple regions, including the south and northeast, continue to rely on aid for basic services.