Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Syria’s Suwayda Amidst Ongoing Clashes and Displacement
A complex and escalating crisis in Syria’s southern Suwayda province has led to significant civilian displacement, a dire humanitarian situation, and continuing sectarian tensions despite a recent ceasefire.
Over 145,000 people have been displaced, primarily within Suwayda, with others seeking refuge in neighboring Daraa and Rural Damascus governorates, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The violence, which erupted on July 13 between Bedouin Arab tribes and armed Druze groups, has resulted in widespread disruptions to essential services including electricity, water, fuel, and telecommunications, exacerbating food insecurity.
Syrian authorities have begun evacuating civilians, with state-run SANA news agency reporting that more than 500 Bedouin families were moved from Suwayda to Daraa by Wednesday using a convoy of six buses. Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba stated these evacuations are temporary and aimed at ensuring safety, with civilians to return once stability is restored. Many of those evacuated had reportedly been held hostage or kidnapped by armed gangs.
The clashes prompted Israeli airstrikes on Syrian military positions and infrastructure, including in Damascus, with Israel citing the “protection of Druze communities.” However, most Druze leaders in Syria have publicly rejected foreign interference, reaffirming their commitment to a unified Syrian state. A ceasefire, brokered by the US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, was announced on Saturday and appears to be holding, although sporadic clashes, drone strikes, and ground fighting have continued.
Amidst the chaos, the Greek Orthodox Church in Syria on Wednesday refuted reports of forced displacement of Christians from Suwayda. Father Nicola Waqas Khoury affirmed that the Christian community remains in the area, stating that only individuals with specific humanitarian or health conditions have left. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported at least 1,300 fatalities in the violence. The new Syrian government, in power since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024, is working to reestablish order nationwide but faces domestic and international criticism regarding its perceived marginalization of minority communities. Humanitarian organizations, including the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, are providing aid, but access remains a significant challenge.
