At the Security Council, OCHA calls for concerted efforts to prevent violence in Syria

Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria by Lisa Doughten, Director, Financing and Partnerships Division, OCHA, on behalf of Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

13 February 2026

As delivered

Thank you, Mr. President,  

As Deputy Special Envoy Cordone has just set out, recent weeks have highlighted Syria’s continued vulnerability to insecurity. They have also shown that, with sustained international support, Syria can navigate these challenges and move towards greater stability and reduce long-standing humanitarian needs.  

Last month’s clashes and military operations forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. While many have returned – particularly in Aleppo City – an estimated 130,000 remain displaced across the governorates of Al-Hasakah, Ar-Raqqa and Aleppo.

Over 90 per cent of those displaced are women and girls. Two-thirds are staying with host communities, straining already stretched households and services. Others are living in overcrowded camps, exposed to the biting cold of winter.

Insecurity and road closures have disrupted supplies of clean water and curbed people’s access to health facilities and schools.

With greater stability and revised security and governance arrangements in place, basic services are gradually resuming, damaged infrastructure is being repaired, and commercial and humanitarian movements between Al-Hasakah and Ar-Raqqa governorates are restarting.

But significant gaps remain. In the city of Ain Al-Arab, also known as Kobani, in Aleppo Governorate, local officials estimate that up to 400,000 people across the city and surrounding communities have been affected by the recent insecurity.

Conditions there appear to be improving incrementally. Commercial supply chains have begun to function again, but only partially.

The city’s residents have faced major shortages in electricity and clean water supply. But there are indications of improvements with electricity supply reportedly resuming this past Monday, following repairs of power equipment.

Mr. President,

Despite the challenges, the UN and our partners continue to deliver vital aid in these areas.

Our teams have reached 200,000 people across Al-Hasakeh, Aleppo and neighboring areas. With national authorities, NGOs, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, we have organized over 170 trucks movements in 14 convoys.

In Ain Al-Arab, some 60 trucks have brought food, water, medical supplies, a mobile clinic, fuel and other critical items. The ICRC and SARC, along with the Government, have worked to repair power supply infrastructure.

In Qamishli, Al-Hol, and parts of Ar-Raqqa, dozens more trucks have brought a range of supplies to reinforce our programmes.

In Al-Hol camp, assistance for thousands of women and children was disrupted for four days. But aid distributions were re-established by 23 January, in coordination with the Syrian Government.

Mr. President, 

Needs in Syria remain immense, but there are encouraging indicators of real – if modest – improvements in the humanitarian situation. 

According to the recently-concluded 2025 Food Security Assessment, food insecurity has been eased thanks to increases in remittances and wages, reduced price inflation for food, and other tentative improvements in the economy.

But limited livelihood opportunities, the continued impact of insecurity and drought-like conditions have slowed the pace of gains. Some 700,000 people are still facing severe food insecurity, while 6.4 million are moderately food insecure.

Since December 2024, more than 3 million refugees and internally displaced persons have returned to their home areas. Dozens of displacement camps have closed.

But many of those returning still require humanitarian aid, and 5.5 million more remain displaced inside Syria.

Displaced people – particularly those living in camps – remain particularly vulnerable to harsh weather conditions.

Earlier this week, heavy rainfall caused severe flooding across parts of Idleb and northern Latakia, killing two children, affecting more than 5,000 displaced people, and damaging or destroying some 2,000 tents.

As we have said consistently to this Council, Syria can turn the corner on humanitarian need, but only with decisive support in three key areas:

First, concerted and agile diplomacy to prevent further violence.

Recent weeks have shown the risk of continued insecurity and the continued importance of protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure.

But we have also seen the potential for dialogue, backed by strong diplomacy, to prevent further escalation and to advance on addressing longstanding tensions.

We hope that recent agreements will translate into the stability that the people of Syria deserve and that can form the basis for genuine investment in Syria’s recovery.

Second, we need increased, targeted investment in recovery and development. 

Continued announcements of plans for private investment in critical infrastructure, energy, and other areas – particularly from the countries in the region – is encouraging.

At the same time, we need scaled, targeted support to restore essential services and livelihoods, to sustain returns, and to ensure the most vulnerable are not left behind.

Our teams are working on plans to accelerate a shift from emergency relief towards recovery and development, while strengthening humanitarian-development cooperation in the interim.

Given the scale of the task of recovery, we need a wide range of international parters to provide substantial and targeted development finance.

Third, we need to preserve vital humanitarian funding in the near term. 

The people of Syria want to move beyond continued reliance on aid. But until the investments in recovery take hold, it is vital that transitional lifesaving assistance is sustained. We urge donors to maintain, and where possible frontload, flexible funding.

In 2025, we were able to leverage improvements in access and a shift to more efficient ways of working to reach 3.8 million people each month. That’s 40 per cent more than the year before – despite only receiving 36 per cent of funding requirements. With more resources, we can expand critical support to millions more.

We are currently finalizing our response plan for 2026, based on updated assessments. In the meantime, we are prioritizing critical activities in this first quarter of this year. These include:

-getting vital aid to those impacted by recent violence, displacement and natural disasters, including food, shelter, water and basic health services;

-making a push on mine action to enable the resumption of basic services, commercial activities, and the prospect of a safe life;

-and strengthening water, health, and other services that save lives while also improving conditions for dignified returns and livelihoods.

Mr. President, 

We continue to have a rare opportunity to help the people of Syria reverse one of the world’s gravest humanitarian crises.

Let us continue doing all we can to let them seize this chance.

Thank you.