BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — Rudaina al-Salim and her family are among the many struggling to survive in rebel-held northwestern Syria. Living in a tent near Idlib, they face a dire shortage of water, food, and aid. The region, home to 5.1 million internally displaced Syrians, has not received any aid in six months.
Al-Salim’s story mirrors the plight of millions in Syria, where the ongoing civil war has claimed nearly half a million lives and displaced half the population. With the economy crumbling and poverty on the rise, access to food and healthcare has become increasingly challenging.
As humanitarian organizations gear up for a fundraising conference in Brussels, the United Nations warns that aid pledges are falling short. Only 6% of the UN’s appeal for aid to Syria in 2024 has been secured so far, leaving millions at risk of food insecurity.
In northwestern Syria, where rebel forces control the enclave, the situation is particularly dire. Without adequate funding, 160 health facilities are at risk of closure by the end of June. The International Rescue Committee reports that Syrians are resorting to child labor and debt to survive.
In neighboring Lebanon, where Syrian refugees face increasing hostility and dwindling aid, the situation is equally grim. Calls for crackdowns on undocumented migrants and demands for their return to Syria’s so-called “safe zones” have sparked fear and uncertainty among refugees like Um Omar, who fears for her family’s safety if forced to return.
As the Syrian crisis enters its 14th year, the need for lifesaving aid has never been more urgent. The upcoming fundraising conference in Brussels aims to raise over $4 billion to support millions of Syrians in need, both within the war-torn country and in neighboring nations. The fate of millions hangs in the balance as the world grapples with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria.