EU: Regime's fall has not ended Syrians' suffering, international protection remains necessary

A recent report issued by the European Union's refugee agency disclosed a highly complex depicture of the Syrian situation in 2025, confirming that the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime has not ended the suffering, but rather opened the door to a new phase characterized by the fragmentation of authority and the proliferation of power centers.

The report notes that other areas of Syria remain under the control of armed factions, referring to the areas occupied by Turkey and its mercenaries, or to semi-autonomous local administrations, as in Sweida, while ISIS maintains a renewed presence in the Syrian Badia.

It also pointed out that the areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces in North and East Syria "maintain their independent military and security structures, separate from the Syrian Transitional Government, which only has nominal authority on the ground."

According to European estimates, Syrians are living in the worst humanitarian situation since the beginning of the war, with 16.5 million people in need of assistance and more than one million refugees returning to extremely harsh conditions characterized by the collapse of services and the loss of infrastructure.

Regarding asylum policies, the report emphasized that the option of "internal refuge" within Syria is not viable, particularly in areas "controlled by armed factions," which "are experiencing high levels of instability and violence."

The report concluded that the post-regime reality in Syria is characterized by the disintegration of authority and widespread economic collapse, making international protection for Syrian refugees an urgent and pressing necessity in the absence of a state capable of guaranteeing security or a minimum standard of dignified living.

J.J