Syria’s Civil War Enters 14th Year with Rising Violence and Humanitarian Crisis
As Syria’s civil war marks its 14th year, the conflict shows no signs of abating, with violence on the rise and the humanitarian situation worsening. While the world’s attention is focused on other crises, such as Russia’s onslaught on Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the people of Syria continue to suffer.
In the village of al-Nayrab in the northwestern, opposition-held enclave of Idlib, Ali al-Ahmad struggles to keep warm in his partially destroyed house, which was struck in a recent round of shelling by government forces. Like many others in the area, he is forced to flee to displacement camps when the bombing intensifies, only to return to find his home further damaged.
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria reported that the country has seen the worst wave of violence since 2020, with a recent surge in attacks and bombings. The war has already claimed nearly half a million lives and displaced millions of Syrians, creating a dire humanitarian crisis.
The conflict, which began as peaceful protests against President Bashar Assad’s government in 2011, quickly escalated into a full-blown civil war with the intervention of foreign forces and the rise of militant groups like al-Qaida and ISIS. The battle lines have been drawn, with Russia backing Assad, Turkey supporting opposition groups, and the U.S. backing Kurdish forces.
Recent events, including a drone strike in Homs and bombardments in northwest Syria, have only added to the chaos and suffering of the Syrian people. With no resolution in sight and a lack of international support, the situation in Syria continues to deteriorate.
The U.N.’s Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria crisis, David Carden, highlighted the urgent need for funding and support in northwest Syria, where millions are in need of humanitarian aid. The recent earthquake that struck the region further compounded the misery, claiming thousands of lives and leaving many more in need of assistance.
As the world grapples with multiple crises, the people of Syria are left to endure a seemingly endless war with no end in sight. The international community must not turn a blind eye to their suffering and must step up efforts to provide much-needed aid and support to the millions affected by the conflict.
