The funds will enable humanitarian partners—primarily the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC)—to deliver urgent assistance to thousands of people affected by the fires.“The wildfires have had catastrophic consequences on the local communities and require our immediate attention,” said Abdelmoula. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Syria during this emergency and will continue to do everything within our capacity to support partners in responding to those most in need.”While assessments are ongoing in 60 communities, initial reports indicate that the blazes have displaced thousands of individuals, destroyed agricultural land and critical infrastructure, and severely disrupted the livelihoods of communities in the coastal region.The UN is coordinating closely with local authorities and humanitarian partners on the ground and stands ready to mobilize further support as required.“I call on international donors to provide urgent support in response to this emergency that already appears to be spiraling out of control,” said Abdelmoula. “Timely and flexible funding is critical to saving lives and protecting communities in moments of crisis.”For more information:
Tamim Elyan, Communication Officer, Humanitarian Coordinator Office, Email: telyan@iom.intSevim Turkmani, Public Information Officer, OCHA Syria, E-mail: sevim.turkmani@un.org
 

UN teams are on the ground conducting urgent assessments to determine the scale of the disaster and to identify the most immediate humanitarian needs. The United Nations stands ready to swiftly mobilize support for authorities and affected communities, working in close coordination with all relevant partners.“At this difficult time, our hearts and thoughts are with the people of Lattakia,” said Mr. Abdelmoula. “We are steadfast in our commitment to support local authorities and provide timely, principled assistance to all affected communities, ensuring that urgent needs are addressed swiftly and effectively.”The United Nations stands ready to deploy a joint inter-agency mission to Lattakia, in coordination with authorities and partners, to assess further the situation and explore avenues for immediate and long-term support.The United Nations commends the extraordinary courage and dedication of firefighters and first responders risking their lives in extremely challenging conditions. The UN also acknowledges and appreciates the rapid support extended by neighbouring countries to help contain the fires. The United Nations reiterates its solidarity with the people of Syria at this critical moment and stands ready to work alongside all stakeholders to ensure that no one is left behind in the response and recovery efforts.

The delegation met with the governors of Aleppo and Idleb, Mr. Azzam al-Gharib and Mr. Mohamed Abdel Rahman respectively to discuss priorities and explore ways to strengthen partnerships and cooperation to help Syria rebuild and recover from nearly 14 years of crisis.It reiterated the UN’s commitment to support the Interim Government and the people of Syria at this crucial time.The delegation also met with displaced communities and returnees from inside and outside Syria to learn more about the challenges they are facing, and the need to prioritise restoring livelihoods and basic services to ensure safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable returns.“I have witnessed firsthand the immense needs of children and families, but I was also inspired by their resilience and determination to rebuild and recover from the years of war towards a better future,” said Mr. Abdelmoula. “The people of Syria deserve all the support the international community can offer and now is the time to act.”Syria remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises where more than 16 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.  The country’s basic infrastructure was destroyed, disrupting the provision of essential services.With the Humanitarian Response Plan for January to June 2025 only 15.9% funded, this gross underfunding could almost certainly have catastrophic results.Under the leadership of H.E. Minister of Health, Dr. Musab Al-Ali, and the Governor of Idleb, the delegation participated in the launch of rehabilitation works at the Ma'arrat An Nu'man National Hospital. Supported by Hand in Hand for Aid and Development (HIFHAD), upon its completion, the hospital is expected to restore essential health services for more than 400,000 people in the area.The UN delegation also visited Ma'arrat An Nu'man primary health care centre,  which was rehabilitated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, with support from GAVI, the vaccine alliance. It reopened in 2025 for the area, serving 100,000 people with primary health care, vaccination, emergency care, and maternity care with only one midwife attending to more than 100 births per month.In Aleppo, the delegation visited Al-Hashmyee School, which had been out of service for over 10 years, and was rehabilitated by the United Nations Children’s Fund - UNICEF in 2022 and now provides inclusive quality education for 350 students.  It also visited Abdul Karim Najjar School, one of eight schools to be rehabilitated by the UN Joint Programme through collaboration between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF and UN-Habitat.With a budget of USD 18 million, the programme will reach over 150,000 people in eastern Aleppo between 2025–2026 by addressing multi-sectoral needs like energy, education, health, food, and jobs.Health and educational systems have been severely strained by the conflict negatively impacting access to services. In Syria, over 2.4 million children are out of school and about 15.9 million people are in need of humanitarian health assistance in 2025, while 40 per cent of the country’s schools and half of its hospitals are non-functional.“At this pivotal moment in the history, investing in the people of Syria means a brighter future for millions who have suffered greatly for a long time,” said Mr. Abdelmoula. “The people of Syria are looking upon us with open hands and hearts full of hope. We shall not let them down.”The delegation was comprised of representatives from the Resident Coordinator Office, UN-Habitat, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), WHO, UNICEF, UN World Food Programme (WFP), UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UNDP.For media inquiries, please contact Tamim Elyan at telyan@iom.int 

Initial reports indicate numerous fatalities and injuries, including women and children, in what appears to be a deliberate attack on a place of worship.As Syria embarks on a path towards recovery, reconciliation and rebuilding, there is no room for violence and extremism. This is a time for unity, tolerance and solidarity to create a better future for all Syrians.I offer my deepest condolences to the families of victims and to the people of Syria and reiterates the United Nation’s commitment to stand with Syria and its people. We urge all relevant authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure the protection of civilians, to bring those responsible to justice, and to ensure such tragedies are not repeated.