Syria on the crossroads: crisis or chance for reconstruction?

Syria on the crossroads: crisis or chance for reconstruction?

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - On December 8, 2024, Syria was shaken by a political overthrow that initiated the end of the decades of dictatorship of the Assad family. This dramatic change fuels both hope and uncertainty among the citizens, while the newly formed transitional government, chaired by Ahmed al-Sharaa, is put to the international test. As ots.at reported, the questions such as ethnic and religious minorities and women are of great importance. In addition, there were recently severe clashes between the security services and the last supporters of the Assad regime, in which over 1,000 people lost their lives, which further tightened the already tense situation.

urgent humanitarian aid needs

Despite the confusion, one thing remains obvious: the humanitarian situation in Syria is catastrophic. Almost 15 million people are dependent on support, while 13 million suffer from nutritional uncertainty. According to Andreas Knapp, General Secretary of Caritas Austria, steadfast infrastructure such as power grids and streets urgently have to be restored after 14 years of conflict. Caritas Despite the financial bottlenecks in the banking system, the organizations maintain close contact with the new government for humanitarian affairs.

The living conditions in Syria are alarming: electricity is often only available for a few hours a day, and farmers fight against total crop failures due to lack of water. Caritas has initiated projects for humanitarian aid in Syria since the 1990s, which have been drastically expanded due to the conflict. The organization now calls for an increase in financial means for development cooperation in order to maintain sustainable reconstruction and fundamental aid measures. The situation also diffuses to Egypt, where Syrian refugees suffer from economic turbulence. Caritas supports vulnerable groups with educational and emergency aid programs and tries to restore the livelihood of the families concerned.