U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Damascus on Saturday and immediately appealed to the international community to support the Syrian people, who are struggling through a humanitarian crisis that's left 90% of the population living in poverty. It was the first visit by a U.N. secretary-general to the Syrian capital since 2009.
Guterres held talks with Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, shortly after his arrival before touring the old quarter of Damascus and the famous Umayyad Mosque. He posted on X that he had just arrived in Damascus for a visit of solidarity and said the United Nations stands with Syria at this "pivotal moment." He added: "I appeal to the international community to spare no effort to support the people of Syria as well."
A Nation Still Broken
The visit came as Syria tries to recover from the deadly conflict that broke out in March 2011, leaving nearly half a million people dead and causing widespread destruction that would cost tens of billions of dollars to rebuild. Since the five-decade Assad family rule came to an end in December 2024, when fighters led by gunmen loyal to al-Sharaa stormed Damascus, the nation has been struggling to recover from years of conflict and the effects of crippling Western sanctions.
While the United States and Europe have lifted many of the sanctions imposed during the rule of the Assad dynasty, the impact on the ground has so far been limited. Cuts to international aid have worsened living conditions for many Syrians. The United Nations estimates that 90% of Syria's population lives in poverty. The World Bank released an assessment last year that said rebuilding Syria after over a decade of civil war is expected to cost about $216 billion.
The Border Question
During his stay in Syria, Guterres is scheduled to visit the U.N. force deployed along the border with Israel. After taking power, al-Sharaa said that he had no desire for a conflict with Israel. Israel was suspicious of the new Islamist-led leadership and quickly moved to take control of the buffer zone.
Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian military facilities and periodic incursions into villages outside the buffer zone, which have sometimes led to violent confrontations with residents. The strikes have added another layer of instability to a country already reeling from fifteen years of civil war and economic collapse.
The Humanitarian Picture
Guterres' first visit to Damascus as U.N. chief underscores the depth of Syria's humanitarian emergency. Nearly half a million people died in the conflict that began in March 2011. The physical destruction alone would require $216 billion to repair, according to the World Bank. But the human cost can't be measured in dollars. Millions have been displaced. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble. Access to basic services remains severely limited across much of the country.
The gap between international promises and actual support has widened. While Western governments lifted sanctions after Assad's fall, aid cuts have hit ordinary Syrians hardest. The U.N.'s estimate that 90% of Syrians live in poverty isn't an abstract statistic. It means families can't afford food, medicine, or school fees. It means a generation growing up without infrastructure, without hope, without the resources to rebuild what was destroyed.
Why This Matters:
Syria's reconstruction isn't just a Syrian problem. It's a test of whether the international community will follow through on its stated commitments to humanitarian assistance and post-conflict recovery. The $216 billion price tag for rebuilding is staggering, but the cost of abandoning 90% of a nation to poverty is higher. Without sustained international support, Syria risks becoming a permanent humanitarian catastrophe, a breeding ground for instability that will spill across borders. The lifting of sanctions was a necessary first step, but it hasn't translated into meaningful relief on the ground. Guterres' visit is a reminder that solidarity requires resources, not just statements. The people of Syria have survived fifteen years of war. They deserve more than survival.