In his briefing, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen underscored the delicate nature of the transitional phase, describing it as a moment of “great opportunities and real dangers.”

He urged careful navigation to ensure that decisions taken now lead to long-term stability.

The humanitarian situation remains critical, with nearly 15 million Syrians requiring health services, 13 million facing acute food insecurity, and over 620,000 displaced amid winter conditions.

“We must seize the opportunity of this moment,” stressed UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, as he outlined urgent priorities for rebuilding Syria.

Mounting humanitarian needs

Mr. Fletcher highlighted three main priorities for humanitarian teams on the ground.

First, restoring the country’s services, shattered by 14 years of conflict, is essential amid widespread food insecurity, crippled health services and as the Tishreen Dam’s damage has restricted water and electricity for over 400,000 people.

Second, he outlined the importance of protecting displaced people as thousands are unable to return to their homes due to lack of infrastructure, services and the threat of unexploded ordnance.

Finally, Mr. Fletcher highlighted the resilience of Syrian women and girls, sharing stories of hope and determination and calling for their inclusion in rebuilding efforts.

Despite progress, the UN relief chief warned that much more is needed, including a comprehensive needs assessment and increased funding for humanitarian operations.

Persistent security challenges

Although law and order have improved in some regions, violence remains a significant concern. Mr. Pedersen reported incidents of unrest in the coastal regions, Homs and Hama.

Armed groups, including the ISIL terrorist network – and over 60 groups with conflicting agendas – also pose ongoing threats to Syria’s territorial integrity.

Key areas outside caretaker control, such as those held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and People’s Protection Units (YPG), remain volatile.

Despite a US-brokered ceasefire near Manbij, clashes with Syrian National Army forces persist and Turkey has signalled potential military escalation.

Additionally, Israeli airstrikes and violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement over the Golan have further raised concerns about sovereignty.

Sanctions and economic recovery

Laying out the transitional authorities’ case for the first time in New York, Syrian Ambassador Koussay Aldahhak called for the immediate lifting of sanctions put against the past regime, arguing that they obstruct humanitarian and reconstruction efforts.

He urged the UN and Council Members to “respect the will of the Syrian people and its national choices.”

Mr. Pedersen acknowledged the need for economic support, stating that “a smooth end to sanctions, appropriate action on designations too, and major funding” are required for feasible reconstruction.

US Ambassador Dorothy Shea countered that sanctions would not hinder humanitarian assistance and reiterated her country’s support for a “Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political

process.”

A path forward

Mr. Pedersen outlined priorities for a credible and inclusive transition, emphasising the need for broad representation in national dialogue, constitutional reforms, and free and fair elections.

Mr. Fletcher concluded by stressing the importance of a peaceful political transition to reduce humanitarian needs.

Stable peace will aid relief efforts

“We need the peaceful political transition that will help us to reduce humanitarian needs,” he said, urging coordinated global efforts to support Syria during this critical phase.

Mr. Aldahhak explained that the country is currently preparing for a national dialogue conference to establish a transitional government to oversee national processes including the drafting of the constitution and the holding of elections.

He also outlined the de facto authorities’ vision for Syria’s future, as a “positive contributor to the promotion of international peace and security” and expressed their will “to build friendly relations based on mutual respect.”

As Syria rebuilds, the United Nations remains committed to facilitating dialogue, delivering humanitarian aid, and ensuring that the country’s future is guided by its people and supported by a united global effort. 

Leading calls for the international community to “move from words to action” to help the country’s most vulnerable returnees urgently, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said that many families have little shelter and few economic prospects.

“In recent weeks, there has been talk in high-level international circles of the need for ‘early recovery’ and ‘rebuilding,’” said Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, UNHCR Representative in Syria, a day after a Security Council meeting charting the way ahead for a peaceful future for all Syrians. “But until we move from words to action, for many returnees…their new life in Syria will unfortunately mean sleeping surrounded by plastic sheeting.”

After 14 years of war – that ended on 8 December after a lightning military takeover in Damascus by forces including Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) – and as international aid teams return to the country, the sheer scale of the destruction across Syria’s towns and cities has become increasingly clear.

In addition to the refugee returnees, nearly 500,000 internally displaced people uprooted by the war made their way back to northwest Syria by the end of last year, according to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA.

Before the fall of the Assad regime, it estimated that 7.4 million people had been internally displaced inside Syria, with 2.3 million residing in camps and a total of 16.7 million people relying on humanitarian assistance.

Following the Security Council discussions, the foreign ministers of Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, in addition to the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, prepared to meet in Rome on Thursday to discuss the situation in Syria.

Winter shelter priority

Echoing the UNHCR alert, the UN migration agency, IOM, pointed to massive winterization needs across Syria for people uprooted or returning to the country, in a call for $73.2 million to assist more than 1.1 million people over the next six months. This represents a substantial increase from the previous $30 million appeal issued in December 2024.

“This effort aims to provide immediate assistance to the most at-risk and vulnerable communities, including displaced and returning groups, across Syria,” IOM said in a statement. “The funds will be used to provide essential relief items and cash, shelter and protection assistance, water, sanitation, hygiene, and health services, as well as early recovery support to people on the move.”

Since December 2024, IOM’s operations inside Syria have reached more than 80,000 people with winter relief items, 170,000 with emergency water and sanitation (WASH) services, and 15,000 with multipurpose cash assistance.

Challenge to restore basic services

In an update later on Thursday, OCHA noted that restoring water and electricity supply, among other basic services, remains challenging across Syria due to insecurity and infrastructure damage.

The agency said the Tishreen Dam in Aleppo is still non-operational since it was damaged in conflict a month ago, and clashes continue in the area, cutting off regular water and electricity access for more than 410,000 people in the cities of Menbij and Kobani.

Ongoing hostilities in parts of Aleppo governorate are reportedly causing civilian casualties, as well as damage to infrastructure and disruptions to aid operations.

The UN and partners continue to support the health response in Syria – including the delivery of medicine, trauma kits and vaccines – but needs remain immense.

Humanitarians report that cases of influenza-like illness are on the rise throughout the country. They also warn that recently released detainees are facing heightened risks of pneumonia, tuberculosis and malnutrition due to pre-existing poor health conditions.

OCHA said many health and nutrition facilities in northwest Syria remain closed, with many having been severely damaged due to shelling in recent months, while others have run out of funding. 

Meanwhile, medical mobile units in the northeast are facing staffing shortages due to the lack of health workers, and pharmaceuticals and medical supplies are urgently needed.

Tragically in the last month alone, eight newborns have died of hypothermia and 74 children have already died amid the brutal conditions of winter in 2025.  

“We enter this New Year carrying the same horrors as the last – there’s been no progress and no solace. Children are now freezing to death,” Louise Wateridge from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, told UN News. 

Meanwhile, hostilities continue with relentless operations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) causing mass casualties and widespread destruction. 

Simultaneously, rocket fire by Palestinian armed groups towards Israel also continues, endangering civilians in the country.

“The Secretary-General again strongly condemns the widespread killing of – and injury to – civilians in this conflict,” said his Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric in a briefing on Thursday.

Hunger crisis grinds on

UN humanitarian partners have reported that the hunger crisis across the Gaza Strip continues to worsen, amid critical supply shortages, severe access restrictions and violent armed looting.

In Central and Southern Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) disclosed that as of Sunday, UN humanitarian partners had exhausted all supplies in their warehouses. 

This comes at a time when Israeli authorities continue to deny most requests to bring food assistance from the Erez West crossing to areas south of Wadi Gaza.

About 120,000 metric tonnes of food assistance, which is enough to provide rations for the entire population for more than three months, remains stranded outside of the Strip.

UN partners have warned that if additional supplies are not received, the distribution of food parcels to hungry families will remain extremely limited.

“More than 50 community kitchens providing over 200,000 meals a day to people in central and southern Gaza would also be at risk of shutting down in the coming days,” reported Mr. Dujarric.

Impossible choices 

According to the World Food Programme (WFP), as of Monday, only five of 20 bakeries supported by the agency are still operational across the Gaza Strip – all of them within Gaza governorate.

In order to be able to stay up and running, these bakeries rely on continued fuel deliveries by partners from southern Gaza.

However, humanitarian partners have now warned that the lack of fuel to power generators is crippling Gaza’s health system, putting the lives of patients at risk and leaving aid workers with impossible choices to make.

North Gaza update 

The conditions are particularly alarming in besieged North Gaza where the movement of humanitarian personnel is heavily restricted.

Ongoing attacks and hostilities in the area have severely disrupted healthcare services for survivors who remain there. 

Access to Al Awda Hospital in Jabalya – the only hospital in North Gaza still partially functioning – is extremely limited.

OCHA reports that Israeli authorities continue to deny UN-led efforts, including the most recent attempt on Wednesday to reach the region.

Across the Strip, the Israeli authorities facilitated only five missions out of 15, with four impeded, three denied and another three canceled due to security or logistical challenges.

“In Gaza, parents and children remain missing beneath rubble, separated or detained – their fates unanswered. Hope is silenced, and the brutal war rages on,” said Ms. Wateridge. 

The path forward 

Despite ongoing difficulties, the UN and its partners are working towards reaching people throughout the region with critical support. 

Across Gaza, between 22 December and 8 January, some 560,000 people received primary and secondary healthcare services.

The Secretary-General called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law. “Civilians must be protected and respected at all times and their essential needs must be met,” said Mr. Dujarric on his behalf.

“There must be an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages being held in Gaza,” he firmly concluded.