More than 7.4 million children in Syria need humanitarian assistance, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported this week, warning that a severe funding gap could endanger the delivery of essential services and put lives at risk.
In its latest humanitarian situation report covering May 2025, UNICEF outlined a stark picture of ongoing hardship in a country still grappling with the aftermath of over a decade of conflict. The report stated that 16.7 million people nationwide require some form of humanitarian aid, including critical support in health care, education, nutrition, and child protection.
Children Killed and Maimed by Explosives
Since December 2024, more than 1,000 people have been killed or injured by unexploded ordnance (UXO), with children accounting for one-third of the casualties, according to the report. The organization described the issue as an urgent protection risk and called for expanded mine awareness programs.
To address the danger, UNICEF launched new child protection and psychological support efforts, reaching more than 100,000 children. New centers have opened in Baniyas and surrounding coastal villages to provide services such as trauma counseling, mine risk education and protection from violence.
Returnees Strain Fragile Services
More than 1.1 million Syrians have returned to their areas of origin since late 2024, most notably in the Aleppo and Idlib governorates. While the return marks a shift in the displacement dynamic, it has also increased pressure on already overstretched infrastructure.
UNICEF noted that many of these returns occurred in areas classified as having “extreme or high severity” humanitarian needs. “The influx of returnees, while a positive sign, has overwhelmed basic services in regions where health, sanitation and education systems are under strain,” the agency stated.
Millions Reached Yet Resources Dwindling
Since January, UNICEF and its partners have reached more than 4.2 million people across Syria, 53% of them children. Services provided include medical consultations, vaccinations, malnutrition treatment, clean water delivery, education programs and social protection.
In May alone, UNICEF facilitated over 185,000 medical consultations and delivered vital nutrition support in coastal areas, where severe malnutrition among children remains a pressing concern. Water and sanitation projects benefited more than 10 million people, including maintenance of key facilities in Hama, Latakia and rural Damascus.
In education, over 106,000 children accessed learning recovery and early childhood development programs. Northeastern Syria saw national exams held for the first time in over a decade, a milestone UNICEF attributed to close cooperation with local authorities.
Funding Gap Puts Gains at Risk
Despite ongoing efforts, only 21% of UNICEF’s 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan has been funded. The organization is seeking $488 million to sustain its operations through the year.
“This funding gap directly threatens our ability to maintain life-saving assistance,” said Joyce Msuya, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director. “Without urgent international support, millions of children in Syria face an uncertain future.”
