Eleonora Servino was on the first UN help convoy to Uwaida, who saw a recent climbing of violence that left many dead and thousands of displaced people.
As an international organization for migration (Iom) The head of the mission in Syria, Ms. Verno said that the difference on the Bosra road is austere.
“Do you know this feeling when you visit somewhere as a tourist, how did the memories integrate into your mind?” Happy and peaceful places filled with amazing views, delicious food, warm smiles and a relaxed atmosphere. This is how I remember Bosra, Syria, 20 years ago.
The ancient city of Bosra, Syria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015 (file)
Rival of ancient Italian relics
I went to see her old Roman theater, a [UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization] Unesco World Heritage Site. I remember the masonry perfectly preserved in the tunnels leading to the stage, the complex sculptures.
Everything rivaled, even outdated, the monuments of my native Italy. I felt at home, with a shared story.
Recently, I came back for very different reasons.
The head of the IOM mission in Syria Eleonora Servino (right) on the first UN aid convoy to the city of Sweida.
Tourists have long left
Syria has endured 14 years of brutal civil war, moving millions. Tourists have left for a long time. But now, with war and stability that comes up slowly, people come back. My organization, OIM, has just been officially authorized to resume operations. One of my first acts as head of the interim advertising mission was to hit the road to Bosra.
It is the only way to the governorate of AS-Sweida, which recently experienced weeks of violence, leaving many deaths and more than 168,000 displaced.
I was part of the first United Nations assessment mission. With the support of Ochha [UN humanitarian agency] And the Syrian Arabian Red Crescent, the convoy provided 40 trucks of aid from various agencies and organizations.
Hostilities broke out in Sweida in July 2025. (File)
“Signs of violence everywhere”
Signs of violence were everywhere. The streets were strangely silent in Sweida. No traffic. None of the bustle you expect in a city that once had more than 70,000 inhabitants.
Built -in buildings, shipwrecked cars and a feeling of omnipresent tension dominated the landscape.
We have visited three areas where internally displaced people have found a shelter, either in host communities or in municipal centers. People have opened their homes to those forced to flee. However, the lack of electricity, water and the main road blocked contracts for resources, which makes it more difficult despite the good will and the humanitarian spirit of ordinary citizens.
“People are always in shock”
The need for humanitarian assistance is clear, from what we have seen and what we have heard. People are always in shock. We talked to people who have lost so much: houses, families, goods, livelihoods.
Our DTM teams (monitoring of the matrix) are on the ground by conducting regular surveys. The needs are basic but essential: food, species, hygiene articles, clothes, cooking sets, fuel and shelter.
We are an essential element of the humanitarian community, pleading and supporting those moved by the conflict. We will continue to work to keep access open and improve it, guaranteeing people what they need. »»
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
