UN Allocates $146 Million in US Funding for Life-Saving Projects in Syria

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher briefed the Security Council on 22 April 2026, announcing the allocation of an additional $146 million from the US Government to fund 17 life-saving humanitarian projects in Syria. All projects are set to begin implementation by 1 May, supported by a newly established Accountability and Impact Team to ensure oversight, risk analysis, and strengthened accountability.

The announcement came during a dedicated Council session on the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) for Syria. Fletcher cautioned that the overall humanitarian appeal of $2.9 billion remains only around 15 percent funded, underscoring the scale of the financing challenge.

Humanitarian Conditions on the Ground

Fletcher outlined the vast scale of humanitarian need across Syria, noting that approximately 13 million people require food assistance, 12 million need access to clean water, and nearly 13 million are in need of healthcare. He highlighted that around 100,000 displaced persons in Aleppo and Hasakah require urgent support, while UN partners are assisting more than 200,000 returnees each month with food, healthcare, and water.

Fletcher also warned of the deadly toll of landmines and explosive remnants of war, noting that casualties have mounted since March, with a third of victims being children. He stressed that accelerated demining efforts are an essential precondition for the safe return of displaced populations and for the rebuilding of Syria.

Three Risks to Recovery

Fletcher identified three major risks threatening Syria's recovery trajectory:

• Regional conflict spillover, including the entry of approximately 300,000 people into Syria fleeing hostilities in Lebanon.
• Enormous unmet humanitarian needs inside the country.
• Funding shortfalls that have led to the suspension of more than 300 health facilities, affecting over 7 million people.

Reintegration into the International System

UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Claudio Cordone called for Syria's reintegration into the global economic and diplomatic order, emphasizing the need for sustained efforts to lift sanctions and address their impact on the Syrian economy and society. He welcomed the Syrian Government's efforts to shield the country from regional conflict spillover and its development of a poverty reduction strategy aimed at strengthening transparency.

Cordone also underscored the importance of institutional support, social cohesion, and progress on the files of missing persons and transitional justice, commending the active role of Syrian women in the political process. He called on Israel to halt violations and respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Child Protection and School Rebuilding

Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Vanessa Frazier urged all parties to support the Syrian Government's efforts to rebuild the country and achieve stability. She stressed the importance of ensuring basic services, particularly education within displacement camps, and warned that many schools remain contaminated by explosive remnants of war, posing a direct threat to children's safety.

Coordination with the Syrian Government

In a related development, President Ahmad al-Sharaa had received Fletcher at the People's Palace in Damascus in early April, in the presence of Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, to discuss mechanisms for improving coordination between relevant authorities and UN agencies. The two sides jointly launched the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan on 2 April, marking the first such plan launched inside Syria and in direct partnership with the Syrian Government.