In a briefing before the UN Security Council on Syria, Rajasingham said that 90 percent of Syrians live in extreme poverty and more than 16.5 million people need urgent humanitarian assistance, representing more than half of the country’s population.

The official stressed that Syrians cannot endure this crisis alone and that the international community must take urgent measures to provide the necessary funding. He explained that more than three million people face severe food insecurity, while new waves of displacement are occurring within Syria.

Rajasingham stated that despite these circumstances, more than one million displaced Syrians have returned to their homes since last December, including 330,000 from camps in northwest Syria. However, he noted that these returns face significant obstacles, including destroyed homes, poor services, and the threat of mines.

Moreover, the official noted that Syrian women and girls remain vulnerable to gender-based violence, and that these violations are often hidden due to social stigma, fear of reprisals, and lack of trust in protection services.

Rajasingham emphasized that more than 900 civilians have been killed or injured since last December due to unexploded ordnance, a third of them children. He also indicated that the health system continues collapsed and under pressure, amid ongoing water shortages in northern Syria and growing demand for medical services across the country.

Rajasingham confirmed that relief operations are continuing, explaining that more than 1,000 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid have entered Syria from Turkey since the beginning of 2025, representing a sevenfold increase over the previous year.

The OCHA director emphasized that the Syrian people have endured for a long time, but cannot continue this ordeal alone.

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