Press Release

Press release by the Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, on the Emergency Allocation of USD 625,000 to Support the Wildfire Response in Lattakia

10 July 2025

Damascus, Syria, 10 July 2025 – The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, has announced the allocation of USD 625,000 from the Syria Humanitarian Fund (SHF) to support emergency response efforts for people affected by the wildfires in Lattakia Governorate.

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.int

Sevim Turkmani, Public Information Officer, OCHA Syria, E-mail: sevim.turkmani@un.org

Adam Abdelmoula

RCO

Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator

abdelmoula@un.org

Mr. Abdelmoula brings more than 35 years of experience in development, rule of law, human rights, humanitarian work and security, of which the last 24 have been with the UN.
Prior to his appointment as United Nations Resident Coordinator, he was serving as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, where he led the UN’s development and humanitarian activities amid the worst drought in generations, political instability, disease outbreaks and a looming famine.
Prior to this, Mr. Abdelmoula held different positions within the UN System, including as Director of the UN Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); Country Director for Iraq at the UN Development Programme (UNDP); Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative in Syria and Kuwait, Chief of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Section at OHCHR, Deputy Chief of the United Nations Mission in Liberia Human Rights Division, Chief Human Rights Officer of the United Nation Assistant Mission for Iraq and Senior Rule of Law and Human Rights Adviser for Somalia.
Before joining the UN, Mr. Abdelmoula worked for several international and regional organizations including Human Rights Watch, Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, the Arab Lawyers Union and the Fund for Peace.
Mr. Abdelmoula has a doctorate in public international law from Georgetown University, a Master of Law from Harvard Law School and Bachelor of Law from Khartoum University.

UN entities involved in this initiative

OCHA

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Goals we are supporting through this initiative