Damascus, Syria, 15 May 2026 — As Syria continues its transition, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) marks another year of collaboration with the European Union (EU), expanding humanitarian assistance across the country and enabling more than 175,000 people to-date, to access critical support.
At a time when more than half of Syria’s population urgently needs humanitarian aid, and one in five Syrians remains internally displaced, this partnership with the EU is vital to ensuring that the IRC and our Syrian partners can provide lifesaving support to those who need it most.
Eatizaz Yousif, IRC’s Country Director in Syria, says,
“Today, Syria is at a critical juncture. Nearly 16 million people across the country still need humanitarian aid to survive. Yet funding cuts risk stalling still nascent progress toward recovery. The IRC’s partnership with the EU remains essential to sustaining vital assistance.”
Syria continues to host one of the largest internally displaced populations in the world. While many express a desire to return home, millions remain unable to do so due to destroyed infrastructure and ongoing insecurity. Access to basic services, including healthcare, often remains severely limited. Through its partnership with the EU, the IRC is helping to ensure people can access essential medical care, while survivors of violence, exploitation, and abuse, receive the support they need to heal and recover safely.
“I am humbled by the transformative impact of IRC’s work with the EU. Just recently, I met mothers who gave birth in IRC healthcare facilities in a camp where no alternatives existed. Community leaders shared with me how IRC programmes have empowered women in their villages with safe spaces to address trauma and nurture new skills. These testimonies reflect the trust we have built and the tangible difference our work makes in people’s lives,” Yousif adds.
For the first time in fifteen years, genuine recovery is within reach for Syria. The IRC remains committed to working together with our local partners to address urgent humanitarian needs, while creating the conditions for Syrians to rebuild their lives with dignity. Sustained donor support for Syria and its people remains indispensable to deliver effective humanitarian aid, create opportunities, and support the country’s recovery and reconstruction.
Notes to editors:
- In 2025, the IRC in partnership with the EU expanded our services from Raqqa, Hassaka, Deir ez-Zor, Aleppo and Idlib to newly accessible governorates of Homs and Rural Damascus, providing critical healthcare and protection services in areas experiencing high rates of return by both refugees and internally displaced persons.
- By partnering with Hand in Hand for Aid and Development (HIHFAD) and the Independent Doctors Association (IDA), we have increased our total number of partnerships under the EU Humanitarian Aid project to five. As a result, the share of funding directed to local partners has risen from 30% to 48%.
- The IRC provided more than 166,000 people with access to medical care, including primary and hospital-level health services, care for mothers and their newborns, mental health and psychosocial support, and specialized treatment. Working with partners, IRC ensured a steady supply of essential medicines, equipped health facilities, trained frontline health workers, and deployed mobile clinics to reach the most vulnerable.
- The IRC also provided over 11,000 people with comprehensive protection services such as legal counseling, psychological care, child protection casework, life-skills training for women, parenting programs and case management services for gender-based violence. Working closely with communities, the IRC helped identify, prevent, and respond to violence, addressing its root causes, and supporting safer environments for women, children, and other at‑risk groups.
The International Rescue Committee partners with the European Union to provide life-saving support to people caught in conflict and disasters around the world. Our work funded by the EU enables people to survive, recover and rebuild their lives.