Syria: Ongoing Conflict and Aid Struggles in a Devastated Nation

Escalating Conflict Forces Thousands to Flee in Syria

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported a worsening humanitarian crisis in Syria, where ongoing conflict has displaced more than 25,000 people from Manbij, a city in the northeast. Shelling and airstrikes have intensified in recent days, particularly in eastern Aleppo and around the Tishreen Dam, a strategically vital site contested by various factions.

The Tishreen Dam remains a focal point of clashes between the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes elements of the PKK/YPG. Control over this region is crucial for both sides as they vie for dominance in northern Syria.

Hundreds of Thousands Displaced

The intensifying violence has led to a significant rise in displacement, with the total number of newly uprooted individuals reaching 652,000 as of January 27. Among the most alarming incidents was a shelling attack on January 25 that hit a town in the Manbij countryside, wounding several children.

Further clashes erupted on Saturday in a displacement camp in Jarablus, north of Manbij, injuring seven people—including two children—and destroying five shelters. Meanwhile, a car bomb explosion outside a hospital and school in Manbij city claimed one civilian life and left seven others injured.

OCHA has also highlighted increasing violence in Syria’s coastal regions, where criminal activities such as looting and vandalism have made it unsafe for civilians to move at night. Additionally, Israeli military incursions into Quneitra, near the Golan Heights, continue following the Israeli army’s temporary occupation of the area after the removal of President Assad.

Humanitarian Crisis Worsens

The overall humanitarian situation across Syria remains dire. OCHA has warned that a severe shortage of public services and financial resources is crippling the aid response. In Homs and Hama, residents receive only 45 to 60 minutes of electricity every eight hours, further complicating daily life.

In northwestern Syria, 102 health facilities have run out of funding since the beginning of 2025, exacerbating the health crisis in the region. To address these urgent needs, the UN and partner organizations have launched a $1.2 billion appeal to assist 6.7 million of the most vulnerable people in Syria through March.

These developments come amid preparations for a closed-door United Nations Security Council meeting on Syria later this week. The session will likely address reports that Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham and head of the caretaker government in Damascus, has been named transitional president. Furthermore, the new administration has reportedly suspended the Syrian constitution, signaling potential political upheaval in the war-torn nation.