Statement by Sita Conklin, Director of the Syria Resilience Initiative, on the Future of Syria’s Recovery

January 22, 2025 - "Syria's need for large-scale recovery is too great to ignore - the time for decisive action is now. Steps must be taken urgently to dismantle the barriers to early recovery efforts across the country and to invest more in the resilience of the Syrian people.

"For more than a decade, Syrians have suffered from a confluence of humanitarian and socio-environmental crises, rendering more than 70 percent of the country's population in need of aid in 2024. 12.9 million people are food insecure and 90 percent fall below the poverty line. Electricity shortages and water scarcity have crippled daily life, the provision of public services and wider economic growth. Extensive damage to schools, health facilities and other infrastructure - if left unaddressed - will have profound consequences for the wellbeing of current and future generations.

"Syrian leaders and civil society, with the support of the international community, must seize this moment to chart a roadmap for Syria's recovery which restores access to services and lays the foundations for lasting peace and stability. Such a process must be inclusive, community-led, and based on the priorities of those affected by the conflict, including women, youth and displaced populations. It should take into account pressing conflict and climate risks.

"An immediate cessation of hostilities is a crucial first step to reducing spiraling needs. The international community must commit without hesitation to sustained, coordinated and principled early recovery across Syria and facilitate a process for visioning and realizing such investment. An enabling political environment, access to essential resources and materials and regional cooperation are central to unlocking early recovery's full potential."