Aid continues to flow from Türkiye into northwest Syria through three border crossings, providing a lifeline to those caught in the crossfire. The UN world Food Program (WFP) has also established community kitchens in Aleppo and Hama, cities reportedly now under the control of HTS fighters.
Simultaneously occurring, in neighboring Lebanon, concerns are mounting for the safety of over 600,000 people who have begun returning to their devastated homes following the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah on November 27th. “I’m sure they are settling back, the problem is what they would find when they go back home,” said senior UN aid official Edem Wosornu in Geneva, highlighting the potential dangers posed by unexploded ordnance.
Syrians Face Mounting Hunger Crisis
Table of Contents
Speaking in geneva after a joint UN and NGO Emergency Directors assessment mission to the Middle East, Samer AbdelJaber, head of the WFP’s Emergency Coordination, Strategic Analysis and Humanitarian Diplomacy arm, described the situation in Syria as “a crisis on top of another.” This latest escalation, he explained, adds another layer of suffering to a country already ravaged by a civil war that began in 2011.
“Around 1.5 million people are likely to be displaced by this latest escalation and will be requiring our support,” AbdelJaber warned. “Of course, the humanitarian partners are working on both sides of the front lines, we’re trying to reach the communities wherever their needs are.”
Despite the sudden escalation,aid continues to flow into Aleppo,Syria’s second-largest city,through three humanitarian border crossings with Türkiye. The WFP has also established two community kitchens in Aleppo and Hama, providing hot meals to those in need.
“Millions of Syrians are already in crisis because of the war which has destroyed the economy and people’s livelihoods,threatening their survival,” AbdelJaber said. “It’s at a breaking point at the moment in Syria, after 13 or 14 years of a conflict, over three million Syrians are severely food insecure and cannot afford enough food.” He added that a total of 12.9 million people in Syria needed food assistance even before the latest crisis.
Despite the urgent need,international funding for Syria’s $4.1 billion humanitarian response plan is facing its largest shortfall ever, with less than one-third of the funds needed for 2024 received to date.
Lebanon Returnees Face peril
In Lebanon, Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy Division at the UN aid coordination office (OCHA), expressed deep concern for the safety of those returning home after the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. “People affected by the war between Israel and hezbollah fighters have returned faster than they even left the conflict; more than 600,000 people have begun to go back home,and as we speak,I’m sure they are settling back. The problem is what they would find when they go back home and the need for our response to pivot very quickly,” she said.
Isabel Gomes, Global Lead of Disaster Management at NGO World Vision International, highlighted the plight of Syrian refugees who have been displaced multiple times. “There was this particular girl that we spoke with; she told us the story that at the time of the conflict, when she had to move, she was pregnant, close to nine months, and she had to walk kilometers and kilometers and kilometers. Then she asked us if she could show us her baby,and we saw her baby was two months. But when we asked if the baby had received vaccines, she said the baby had never received vaccines.”
Returning farming communities also face deadly dangers from unexploded ordnance left behind by the fighting in southern Lebanon.
The United Nations is sounding the alarm about the dire humanitarian situation in the aftermath of the recent conflict in Gaza. While a ceasefire has brought a temporary halt to the fighting,the road to recovery is long and fraught with challenges.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the scale of destruction is staggering. “We are talking about thousands of homes destroyed or severely damaged,” said Ms. Wosornu, a representative from OCHA. “This has left tens of thousands of people displaced, many seeking refuge in overcrowded shelters or with host families.”
Adding to the already dire situation, the presence of unexploded ordnance and landmines poses a meaningful threat to civilians attempting to return home or resume their livelihoods. “We also are concerned about the impact of mines and unexploded ordnance in some of these locations,” Ms. Wosornu explained. “We are really asking our mine action colleagues and others to support the Goverment in demining activities because when people who want to go back home, who’ve gone back home, the farmers who are trying to salvage the rest of the olive harvest, there’s fears that this…could be impacted there.”
The UN is calling for urgent international assistance to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.This includes providing shelter, food, water, and medical care to those in need, and also supporting the long-term reconstruction efforts.
## World today News: Exclusive Interview
**Syrian Crisis Deepens as Lebanon Faces Unexploded Ordnance Threat**
**Geneva, Switzerland** – The ongoing conflict in Syria and the recent Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon have placed millions of lives at risk, highlighting a growing humanitarian crisis in the region. We spoke with two senior UN officials, Samer AbdelJaber, Head of the World Food Program (WFP) Emergency Coordination, Strategic Analysis and humanitarian Diplomacy, and Edem Wosornu, Director of operations and Advocacy Division at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), to gain insight into the dire situation.
**World Today News:** Mr. AbdelJaber, you recently returned from a joint UN and NGO assessment mission to the Middle East. What is the current situation in Syria?
**Samer AbdelJaber:** The situation is critical. syria was already grappling with a devastating civil war, its economy crippled and millions facing food insecurity. This latest escalation adds another layer of suffering.We anticipate approximately 1.5 million people will be displaced, requiring immediate humanitarian assistance.
**World Today News:** What are the biggest challenges in delivering aid?
**Samer AbdelJaber:** We are working tirelessly on both sides of the front lines, trying to reach communities in need regardless of their location. Funding remains a major obstacle. The 2024 humanitarian response plan for Syria needs $4.1 billion, but to date, we have received less than one-third. This shortfall considerably hampers our ability to provide life-saving aid.
**World Today News:** What is the impact on the existing food crisis in Syria?
**samer AbdelJaber:** The situation is nearing a breaking point. Before this latest escalation, over 3 million Syrians were severely food insecure. The conflict has decimated livelihoods and eroded the economy, leaving millions unable to afford basic necessities.
**World Today News:** Ms. Wosornu, we understand that many lebanese citizens have started returning to their homes in the wake of the ceasefire with Hezbollah. What are the concerns surrounding their return?
**Edem Wosornu:** While it’s encouraging that people are returning home, our primary concern is their safety. There’s a meaningful risk from unexploded ordnance left behind during the conflict. This poses a severe threat to civilians, especially children who may unintentionally trigger these devices.
**World Today News:** What measures are being taken to mitigate this risk?
**edem Wosornu:** We are working with local partners and authorities to raise awareness about the dangers of unexploded ordnance and to conduct clearance operations. Though, the scale of the task is immense, and it will take considerable time and resources to ensure the safety of these returnees.
**World Today News:** What message do you have for the international community?
**Samer AbdelJaber:** The Syrian people are facing unimaginable suffering.We need urgent action from the international community to increase funding for humanitarian assistance and find a lasting solution to this protracted conflict.
**Edem Wosornu:** The Lebanese people have shown remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.
But they need our support to rebuild their lives and ensure the safety of their communities. International solidarity is crucial at this juncture.
