UN delegation assesses Syria crisis: 16 Million lack basic services
On Thursday, the United Nations called for urgent international support to address Syria's deepening humanitarian crisis, where nearly 16 million people are living without adequate access to basic services amid mounting funding shortfalls.
The appeal followed a two-day visit by a senior UN delegation to the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo during which officials assessed the scale of the crisis, renewing the organization's commitment to assist the interim government and Syrian communities through what it described as ''a critical period.''
Delegation members also toured camps and host communities, engaging with internally displaced people and returnees from within and outside the country. Their focus centered on identifying the most urgent needs, highlighting the importance of restoring basic services and livelihoods to support safe, dignified, and sustainable returns.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, described widespread humanitarian needs among children and families, noting the resilience and determination he witnessed among those striving to rebuild their lives.
He further urged the international community to increase investment in essential services and early recovery efforts, underscoring that such support could help pave the way for a more hopeful future for millions who have endured prolonged hardship.
According to the UN, Syria remains among the world's most severe humanitarian emergencies. Years of conflict have devastated key infrastructure, leaving millions without access to water, electricity, healthcare, and education. More than 7.2 million people remain internally displaced, many living in precarious conditions with limited access to assistance.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Explosions heard near Erbil and Kirkuk airports
Shafaq News – Erbil/Kirkuk On Thursday, two explosions were heard near Erbil International Airport, and a drone crashed in southern Kirkuk, according to a security source. Preliminary information indicates an unidentified object fell near the airport. It remains unclear whether it was a drone or a missile. A security source told Shafaq News that the US base at Erbil Airport intercepted and downed two drones west of the city. The directorate announced in a statement a booby-trapped drone was shot down, without causing any human or material damage. In a separate incident, a security source in Kirkuk told Shafaq News that a drone crashed on Airport Street near Badr neighborhood in the southern part of the city. Security forces were dispatched to the site to investigate. Additionally, Spokesperson for Kirkuk International Airport Hardi Al-Salihi confirmed to Shafaq News, 'There have been no attacks on either the civilian or military sections of the airport,' adding that operations are continuing normally without disruption to scheduled flights. The Head of the Turkmen Parliamentary Bloc, Arshad Al-Salihi, told Shafaq News that the ongoing drone and Katyusha rocket attacks on Kirkuk's civil and military airport signal a serious warning about the scale of the security breach in the city. 'What's even more alarming is that no one knows where these drones are being launched from, nor why they are not being detected despite the presence of radars at the military airport,' he added. Al-Salihi also called on urgent and transparent investigation by the relevant authorities to identify the sources of the threat and hold those responsible accountable. Earlier, an unidentified drone carrying two missiles crashed in an open area near the town of Kokez in Diyala.
Shafaq News
4 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Kremlin signals stalled progress on Ukraine after Putin-Trump discussion
Shafaq News – Washington/Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin told US President Donald Trump on Thursday that Moscow will not abandon its objectives in Ukraine, while also stressing the need for diplomatic solutions to conflicts in the Middle East, according to Russian and American media. In a one-hour-long call, both sides discussed the war in Ukraine, regional tensions in the Middle East, and joint economic projects. The call is the sixth publicized phone conversation between the two leaders since the start of Trump's second term. 'Putin expressed openness to continued negotiations with Kyiv,' Yury Ushakov, the Russian President's foreign policy adviser, told reporters, adding that 'our president also declared that Russia will pursue its objectives — namely, to eliminate the well-known root causes of the current situation.' Ushakov said that Putin emphasized to Trump the importance of resolving Middle East conflicts through political and diplomatic means, including the recent flare-up between Iran and Israel. The leaders also discussed potential economic cooperation, particularly in the energy and space sectors. According to Ushakov, both presidents agreed that such joint projects 'would be beneficial for both Moscow and Washington.' Meanwhile, Western media outlets reported that Trump is expected to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday to address the recent suspension of certain US weapons shipments to Ukraine.
Shafaq News
4 hours ago
- Shafaq News
US sanctions Iraqi businessman for Iranian oil exports
Shafaq News – Baghdad/Tehran/Washington On Thursday, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on a business network allegedly smuggling Iranian oil under the guise of legitimate Iraqi trade. In a statement, the department said the companies led by Iraqi businessman Salim Saeed had been purchasing and shipping Iranian oil—either disguised or blended with Iraqi crude—since at least 2020, in transactions worth billions of dollars. The sanctions also target several vessels accused of covertly transporting Iranian oil, as part of what US officials described as a crackdown on Iran's 'shadow fleet.' Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control is taking action against networks that have collectively transported and purchased billions of dollars' worth of Iranian oil, some of which has benefited Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods… — Treasury Department (@USTreasury) July 3, 2025 In remarks to Fox News on June 29, Trump indicated that sanctions could be lifted if Iran takes constructive steps The treasury also imposed sanctions on several senior officials and one entity tied to Al-Qard al-Hassan, a financial institution controlled by the Lebanese Hezbollah. According to the department, these individuals facilitated multi-million-dollar transactions that ultimately benefited the group while obscuring its involvement. Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control is sanctioning seven senior officials and one entity associated with the Hizballah-controlled financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan, which was designated by OFAC in 2007. — Treasury Department (@USTreasury) July 3, 2025 Earlier this year, Iraq's Oil Minister stated in a televised interview that Iran had falsified documents for oil shipments using Iraq's name to mask the exports, affirming that the government had notified Washington of its non-involvement.
