Germany Explores Humanitarian Aid in Post-Assad Syria

Development Minister Svenja Schulze visits Damascus to assess aid opportunities while addressing refugee return concerns.

German Development Minister Svenja Schulze visited Damascus to evaluate humanitarian aid projects in the war-torn country following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Schulze announced €60 million in aid, focusing on education, psychosocial support, and job creation, implemented through UN agencies and NGOs rather than the new Islamist-led transitional government.
Syria's transitional government, led by Ahmed al-Scharaa, emphasized that there is no immediate need for Syrian refugees in Germany to return, citing safety and better living conditions abroad.
Ongoing challenges in Syria include widespread poverty, destroyed infrastructure, and limited access to electricity, healthcare, and education, with 90% of the population in need of assistance.
German officials, including Schulze and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, stressed the importance of inclusive governance and safeguarding minority rights as prerequisites for lifting sanctions and further engagement.