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Fall of Bashar Al-Assad: A glimmer of hope that neither overshadows the tragic human toll nor the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Published on Tuesday 10 December 2024

[Paris, December 10, 2024] In the space of ten days, the rapid advance of opposition groups has brought an end to Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, giving rise to both hope and uncertainty among a population scarred by 14 years of war. In response to this upheaval, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL is mobilizing alongside its Syrian partners to provide emergency assistance to those affected by the ongoing political and territorial reconfiguration, while continuing to deliver essential aid to people who were already in highly vulnerable situations prior to the regime’s overthrow. 

The takeover by opposition groups marks a historic turning point in a country ruled for 50 years by the Al-Assad family. The conflict has resulted in over 500,000 deaths, the majority of whom were civilians, 100,000 missing persons, and more than 13 million displaced people. While this shift has given the Syrian population renewed hope, the situation remains highly volatile, and the humanitarian consequences are unpredictable. 

The fall of the regime comes against a highly fragile humanitarian context, with 16 million Syrians in need of assistance to meet their basic needs. Furthermore, according to the UN, the rebel offensive has displaced nearly one million people internally in just ten days¹. Present in northwestern and northeastern Syria for over 12 years, our teams on the ground report an increasing humanitarian need: “Tens of thousands of people are heading to northeastern Syria to seek safety, but the conditions to welcome them with dignity are not in place,” emphasizes Colin Rehel, Country Director for SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL in Syria. “The newly displaced populations urgently need access to water and shelter. The humanitarian effort must not falter.” 

For over a week, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL, together with its Syrian partners, has been providing emergency assistance in several reception centers located in Idlib, Raqqa, and Hassakeh. The NGO is distributing water, hygiene kits, and blankets. It has also set up several communal tents, as well as latrines and handwashing stations, enabling thousands of displaced people to sleep under shelter after spending several days on the road.

¹Syrie : l’offensive des groupes rebelles a fait près d’un million de déplacés en plus de dix jours, selon l’ONU | ONU Info 

 

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