Syria Monthly Report

Executive summary

International engagement

The Ninth Brussels Donors Conference was held on 17 March, with representatives from several countries and international organizations in attendance. Akin to previous conferences, many attendees made financial pledges to support Syria and its neighboring countries. However, despite the importance of the Brussels Conference in supporting Syria, this year’s event did not live up to expectations, especially since a new government assumed power and directly participated in the Conference for the first time. Prior to the Conference, there were statements affirming that the pledges would support early recovery, and discussions would revolve around Syria’s reconstruction. Despite these statements, the Conference did not expand to that level, and the focus remained on urgent humanitarian aid. It is likely that the EU and US are cautious about fully opening up to the new Syrian government, especially after recent violence on the Syrian coast, and may seek to link humanitarian assistance to progress in the political process using a step-by-step approach to build trust.

Security governance and stability

On 10 March, the Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi signed an agreement to merge AANES civilian and military institutions with those in Damascus. While the agreement was welcomed by domestic and international stakeholders, its implementation is proving difficult because of the presence of spoilers and deepening disagreements about key issues. The SDF’s continued hostile stance against government supporters and combatants in its areas and the negative perception by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) of the newly drafted constitution could thwart the agreement’s implementation.

In As-Sweida, a merger with the Syrian government divided key local stakeholders in the governorate. These stakeholders are currently unable to reach consensus on the matter. While the disagreements have not led to clashes, heightened tensions risk deepening these divisions.

Economic stability

The struggling industrial and manufacturing sectors in Aleppo and Idleb have been negatively affected by the recent influx of Turkish goods into local markets. Syria’s decision in January 2025 to lower tariffs on around 270 Turkish products has worsened the situation and rendered domestic products unable to compete. This led to factory closures and consequent job losses that have exacerbated the pre-existing high unemployment and poverty rates. The worsening economic situation has increased reliance on humanitarian aid to meet basic needs. Without calculated protective measures, local industries are likely to continue their decline.

Humanitarian needs

The Syrian government launched a security operation in early March on the Syrian coast after pro-Assad insurgents instigated a coordinated attack against its forces in an attempt to capture territory. These clashes resulted in significant damage to civilian infrastructure and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, with thousands of civilians forced to flee from the conflict zones to safer areas both within the country and abroad, especially Lebanon. The Syrian government is struggling to respond to the crisis amid resource shortages and access difficulties because of the unstable security situation. The government attempted to support civilians by activating basic relief services in affected areas. Food and medical aid were sent to the impacted areas, while work was done to restore essential services such as electricity and water. Despite ongoing efforts by the Syrian government and humanitarian organizations to ease the suffering, significant challenges in funding, supplies, and essential services continue to pose major obstacles to an effective and comprehensive response.

Infrastructure and services

Idleb is facing significant challenges due to gas shortages which have disrupted businesses and the lives of its residents. The supply of gas canisters, primarily used by residents and businesses for cooking, has been insufficient over the past two months despite local officials claiming otherwise. While allocations to Idleb governorate remained the same on paper, the distributors’ decision to sell them to other governorates for additional profits has depleted supply. The Syrian government has tried to resolve the issue by closely monitoring gas deliveries. However, crackdowns on illicit sales are unlikely to offer a sustainable solution. Illicit sales tend to adapt and re-emerge, even if they’re temporarily disrupted. The core issue is not enforcement but economic disparity.

Media outlets have reported that electricity provision increased across Syria. The increase was attributed to the Qatar gas initiative that will be providing an estimated 100 million cubic meters per day of natural gas to Syria. However, the government has been making grand efforts in the background to increase supply by increasing domestic production, reactivating AANES import agreements, and allegedly importing Russian-sanctioned oil. Despite these efforts, the government is unlikely to fulfil its fuel needs without taking control of the oil and gas fields in the northeast and gaining access to international suppliers.