Statement from the Syrian NGO Alliance SNA on the recent changes in Syria, 12 December 2024 [EN/AR]

Syrians from all walks of life and across the globe are closely following the recent changes in their homeland. Syria, which on the morning of Sunday, December 2024, 8, marked the end of more than six decades of oppression and tyranny. This era witnessed the elimination of a genuine and free civic space, the marginalization of society, and the deprivation of human rights.

The organizations operating under the umbrella of the Syrian Non-Governmental Organizations Alliance (SNA) are Syrian in origin and ideology. Over the past years, we have worked across all Syrian territories, either openly or secretly, to provide humanitarian aid in accordance with humanitarian principles. The staff of our organizations have made great sacrifices, with many of our colleagues losing their lives while fulfilling their responsibilities to support the communities we exist to serve.

The declared presence of an alliance of non-governmental organizations in northwest Syria is a direct result of forced displacement, changes in control zones, and the inability of these institutions to obtain licenses or operate in Damascus, due mostly to the bureaucratic repression imposed by the now-former regime. These factors, coupled with the imposition of numerous legal, operational, and financial obstacles, led to the displacement of countless humanitarian workers. These workers, alongside their communities, moved to northern Syria, where they found refuge. Through these efforts, they established exemplary models of professional humanitarian work that prioritize the community, leverage its capabilities, and adhere to humanitarian principles.

We, the Syrian Non-Governmental Organizations Alliance, congratulate the great Syrian people on achieving their rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose anniversary we commemorate this week. We congratulate these great people, whom we have honor of serving, on reaching a historic milestone where they can rebuild their country, claim their rights, and defend them. As displaced people return to their communities or origin, they face a reality where services are already heavily strained, due to successive economic and health crises, even prior to the dramatic increase in returnees. We would like to address the following key messages to international humanitarian actors, including the United Nations, its agencies, and humanitarian donors:

1. Acknowledgment of Donors: We extend our gratitude to humanitarian donors for their enduring commitment over the past years and for their efforts to build the capacity of alliance organizations. This imposes a significant responsibility on us to transfer this experience to community leaders in Syria and to local organizations during the phase of early recovery and reconstruction that Syria will witness in the future.
2. Reminder of the Nature of SNA Organizations: We emphasize that SNA organizations operating in northwest Syria are Syrian organizations established through the relentless drive and determination of Syria’s great people. Due to the inability to obtain internationally accepted legal licensing within Syria, these organizations chose neighboring countries as operational hubs, benefiting from the availability of legal licensing conditions and mechanisms for financial transfers.
3. Readiness and Expertise: We affirm the readiness of all SNA members, with our accumulated expertise and more than a decade of experience, to meet the needs of the Syrian people across the entirety of Syrian territory.
4. Call for Unified Coordination and Funding: We urge all donors to maintain ongoing coordination mechanisms and to initiate immediate funding for direct response efforts for populations across all Syrian regions. For the first time since 2011, coordination can be unified for all of Syria, managed from within Syria, and driven by the efforts of local staff. This process will draw on the cumulative expertise of each coordination center under the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
5. Governance of Humanitarian Work: The SNA members are closely monitoring the governance of humanitarian work within Syria. We are prepared to transfer our operations to be based inside Syria as soon as an opportunity arises, provided that we can obtain legally recognized licenses from donor entities and secure access to Syrian bank accounts under the Central Bank of Syria’s system.
6. Increased Financial Support for Recovery: We call for explicit and increased financial support for Syria's recovery efforts to ensure sustainable development and long-term stability for the needy communities.
7. Opposition to Forced Returns: We call on all refugees' host countries governments to unconditionally oppose forced and involuntary returns of Syrians and to allow individual Syrians to determine for themselves when and if they wish to return to Syria.

Conclusion: The civil space in Syria requires construction and activation with the involvement of all humanitarian actors. Our alliance of organizations will continue to enhance our role in Syrian civil society, maintaining our commitment to the Syrian citizen’s well-being. Our mission remains to ensure the presence of a free, dignified, and diverse Syrian civil society.