Syria – The Forgotten Crisis

Syria remains one of the world’s largest and most structurally damaging humanitarian catastrophes, even after the political landscape shifted dramatically with the removal of Bashar al‑Assad and the rise of a new, internationally recognized government backed by a relatively cohesive military. The United States, Turkey, and Gulf states are now working with this government to stabilize the economy and rebuild institutions. But the humanitarian crisis that the war produced has not receded. It remains vast, unresolved, and capable of undermining the fragile transition if not addressed with urgency.

Syria is a country of 185,000 square kilometers—roughly the size of Washington State—with a pre‑war population of 22 million. Today, after more than a decade of conflict and mass displacement, 18–19 million people remain inside the country, while millions more live abroad as refugees. The scale of human need relative to the size of the nation is staggering.

A Humanitarian Catastrophe of Historic Scale

The Syrian conflict has killed an estimated 600,000 people—roughly ten times more than the Gaza war to date—and injured millions. Many of the wounded live with permanent disabilities, including tens of thousands of amputees. Entire neighborhoods were erased. Hospitals and clinics were systematically targeted. Schools were destroyed or abandoned. Detention, torture, and chemical attacks left deep psychological scars.

Today, over 16 million Syrians inside the country require humanitarian assistance, the highest level since the conflict began. Roughly 7.4 million remain internally displaced, many living in tents or makeshift shelters. Another 4.4 million Syrians live as refugees in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and Europe. Many have been displaced for a decade or more, with no clear path to return.

Food insecurity affects a majority of the population. The economy is in freefall. Families rely on debt, child labor, early marriage, and asset liquidation to survive. Child malnutrition—once rare in pre‑war Syria—is now widespread. Explosive ordnance contamination continues to kill and maim civilians, especially children.

The war’s frontlines may have shifted, but the humanitarian emergency has not ended. It has simply become chronic.

The Geography of Destruction: The North as the Humanitarian........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)