The Syrian Future Movement is following with grave concern the warnings issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) regarding the loss of humanitarian aid to approximately 70% of beneficiaries in southern Syria during October, due to severe funding shortages and logistical access difficulties.
This decline is a dangerous indicator of the fragility of the humanitarian situation, particularly in the governorates of As-Suwayda, Daraa, and Rural Damascus, at a critical juncture in the nation’s history that demands the highest levels of responsibility and coordination.
Based on its national vision that transcends regional and sectarian loyalties, the Syrian Future Movement believes that the widening humanitarian gap in the south of the country threatens the foundations of social stability during the transitional phase and hinders efforts to build a sound civilian administration capable of providing services and empowering local communities.
The Syrian Future Movement believes the following:
First: The danger of excessive reliance on external funding without developing parallel national initiatives. The decline in funding for the Humanitarian Response Plan to approximately a quarter of its annual value underscores the necessity of shifting from absolute dependence on international funding to a participatory Syrian approach. This approach should be based on empowering civil society and local organizations, strengthening their technical and logistical capacities, and enabling them to play an independent national role in protecting the food and service security of communities.
Second: The need for transparent humanitarian management that aligns with the goals of the transitional phase. The Movement calls for the establishment of an independent national platform for humanitarian monitoring, comprising representatives from civil society, local administrations, and international partners. Its mission would be:
1- Monitoring the flow of humanitarian aid.
2- Ensuring equitable distribution among governorates.
3- Providing accurate data to decision-makers.
This aligns with the principle of transparency, which is essential for rebuilding trust between citizens and institutions at this stage.
Third: Linking emergency responses to early recovery projects. While the continued provision of food, flour, or support for water networks is necessary, it is insufficient for building a secure future for Syria. Therefore, the movement emphasizes the necessity of allocating a portion of international funding towards repairing basic infrastructure (water, electricity, and sanitation), supporting local livelihoods, and rehabilitating public service networks.
These projects are considered a cornerstone of social stability in any sustainable political transition.
Fourth: Enhancing human security as a prerequisite for expanding humanitarian work. The movement points out that the recurring injuries caused by explosive remnants of war in southern Syria constitute a major obstacle to aid delivery.
Accordingly, the Syrian Future Movement calls for a joint national-international plan to remove the remnants of war, integrated with community awareness programs, as a necessary step to protect civilians and ensure a safe environment for humanitarian organizations.
In light of the above, the Syrian Future Movement proposes:
- An urgent appeal to international donors to increase funding allocated to southern Syria, with the adoption of effective monitoring mechanisms to ensure that aid reaches those who need it.
- Empowering local civil society organizations in the south through training and direct funding, thereby strengthening their role in managing the humanitarian response.
- Launching a national plan for early recovery based on a comprehensive vision for the transitional phase, including the rehabilitation of vital infrastructure and basic services.
- Establishing a national humanitarian aid observatory to document funding and response gaps and serve as a reference for national policies.
- Strengthening coordination with the United Nations and international organizations to develop joint programs that address humanitarian gaps and support social stability.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that addressing humanitarian challenges in the south is an integral part of the project to build a new Syrian state—a state based on citizenship, justice, and transparency, and that prioritizes human beings in all aspects of the transitional phase.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its commitment to working with its local and international partners to ensure that no region or group in Syria is left behind on the path to stability, justice, and development.
