SYRIA — UPDATE 2023
By Vincent Lyn
SYRIA — UPDATE 2023
As I make preparations to return to Syria next month the stories and reports about Syria often fail to capture the human aspect of the crisis. They focus on the notion of a “war,” conjuring images of armies, battlefronts, and tanks. However, the reality is far more complex. This is not a conflict between two equal sides engaging in combat; it is a struggle of individuals fighting for a better life, freedom, and dignity, against forces seeking to destroy them.
The origins of the civil war can be traced back to peaceful protests in 2011, which were met with a brutal crackdown resulting in widespread casualties and injuries. From there, a series of violent events unfolded, plunging the country into a protracted and fragmented conflict with numerous parties involved.
The consequences of this war have been devastating for the Syrian people. They have endured a crippling economic crisis, with severe consequences for their livelihoods and well-being. Human rights violations have been rampant, further exacerbating the suffering of the population. The country has faced a water crisis, with access to clean water becoming a daily struggle for many. Additionally, a cholera outbreak has added to the already dire situation, compounding the challenges faced by the healthcare system.
Furthermore, the people of Syria have grappled with food shortages and widespread poverty. Approximately 90% of the population has been affected by poverty, placing immense strain on individuals and families struggling to meet their basic needs.
Adding to the already overwhelming crisis, two devastating earthquakes recently struck Syria and Turkey, causing widespread destruction. Buildings, schools, and hospitals have been reduced to rubble, resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of lives and trapping countless others in dire circumstances.
These events, coupled with the prolonged conflict, paint a bleak picture of the immense suffering experienced by the people of Syria.
It is crucial to recognize the human stories and the profound impact of this crisis beyond mere statistics and facts. The Syrian people deserve empathy, understanding, and support as they strive to rebuild their lives amidst unimaginable adversity.
The Syrian people have endured immense suffering over the course of the twelve years of war. The approximate number of deaths have surpassed 600,000 and some reports over one million but the impact of the conflict goes far beyond the loss of life, as more than half of Syria’s pre-war population of 22.8 million have been forced to flee their homes. Of these, approximately 6.8 million are internally displaced, with over two million residing in tented camps that provide limited access to basic services.
Additionally, around 6 million Syrians have become refugees or asylum-seekers in other countries. Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey have borne the brunt of hosting 5.3 million refugees, grappling with one of the largest refugee exoduses in recent history.
As of the beginning of 2023, the United Nations reported that 15.3 million people inside Syria required some form of humanitarian assistance, marking an all-time high since the war began. Furthermore, 12 million people did not know where their next meal would come from, indicating the severity of the hunger crisis.
The dire humanitarian situation in northwestern Syria, where the last opposition stronghold is located, was further exacerbated by a massive earthquake that struck near the Turkish city of Gaziantep on February 6, 2023. The earthquake claimed the lives of over 5,900 people across Syria and affected an additional 8.8 million individuals. Many families were left without essential resources such as food, water, and shelter. The delivery of life-saving aid to opposition-held areas was delayed for days due to failures by the warring parties and the international community, as described by a U.N panel.
This disaster occurred amidst skyrocketing food and fuel prices in Syria due to rampant inflation, currency collapse, and the global crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. Syria has also faced significant challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic, although the full extent is difficult to ascertain due to limited testing. Furthermore, a deadly cholera outbreak worsened in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Access to medical care has been severely restricted, as only half of the country’s hospitals are fully operational. Shockingly, Physicians for Human Rights documented 601 attacks on at least 400 separate medical facilities by February 2022, resulting in the deaths of 942 medical personnel.
The devastation extends beyond loss of life and displacement. Roughly 90% of the vital infrastructure throughout the country is destroyed and entire neighborhoods remain in ruins. Aleppo city alone saw over 35,000 structures damaged or destroyed before it was recaptured by the government in late 2016, according to U.N satellite analysis. Syria’s rich cultural heritage has also suffered significant damage, with all six of the country’s UNESCO World Heritage sites experiencing considerable harm, including deliberate destruction by ISIS militants in places like the ancient city of Palmyra.
A U.N commission of inquiry has concluded that the warring parties have committed nearly every crime against humanity and war crime applicable in a non-international armed conflict. A February 2021 report highlighted the vast aerial bombardments of densely populated areas, chemical weapons attacks, modern-day sieges resulting in deliberate starvation, and unacceptable restrictions on humanitarian aid, which follow medieval scripts and defy all standards of humanity.
The collective impact of these crises has created an immense burden on the Syrian people, who have endured unimaginable suffering for more than a decade. Humanitarian organizations and aid agencies have been working tirelessly to provide assistance, but the scale of the crisis surpasses their capacities. Urgent international support is needed to address the immediate needs of the population and to work towards sustainable solutions that can rebuild Syria and alleviate the immense suffering of its people.
Vincent Lyn
CEO & Founder of We Can Save Children
Deputy Ambassador of International Human Rights Commission (IHRC)
Director of Creative Development at African Views Organization
Economic & Social Council at United Nations (ECOSOC)
Editor-in-Chief at Wall Street News Agency
Rescue & Recovery Specialist at International Confederation of Police & Security Experts