World Humanitarian Day 2026

Each year, World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity to recognise the people working to support communities affected by crisis. In Syria, where needs remain high despite significant changes across the country, that work is as important as ever. Amid a complex and evolving humanitarian context shaped by population movement, climate-related shocks, and periodic insecurity, humanitarian workers continue to play a vital role in helping communities withstand crisis, recover and rebuild.

Over the past year, humanitarian workers across AFS partner organisations have responded to multiple emergencies in some of the country's most challenging operating environments. Their professionalism, dedication and courage have enabled life-saving assistance to reach hundreds of thousands of people affected by sudden shocks and displacement, including more than 443,700 people reached following shifts in territorial control in northeastern Syria in January 2026 and a further 27,800 people affected by severe flooding along the Euphrates in May and June 2026.

This World Humanitarian Day, we extend our thanks to the individuals behind Syria's humanitarian response, whose efforts ensure that assistance reaches people when it is needed most. Through Ruqayya's story below, we spotlight just one of the many humanitarian workers delivering vital support to communities across the country.

Murad Maithalouni
AFS’s Executive Director

How Ruqayya is restoring lifesaving nutrition services in eastern Aleppo

At Abu Qalqal Health Centre in rural Manbij, Ruqayya screens children and women for signs of malnutrition. As a nutrition specialist, she helps identify those requiring support and refers them for treatment and follow-up care.

Her work is part of a broader effort to restore access to healthcare in Manbij and Ain Al Arab (Kobani), eastern Aleppo, where many primary healthcare centres (PHCs) had become non-operational. Recent changes in the political control of the area have placed additional pressure on an already fragile health system, leaving thousands of people, including women, children and older people, without access to essential services.

Using part of a US$ 500,000 emergency response top-up from AFS, national partner Syria Relief and Development (SRD) is restoring three PHCs in the areas. The funding covers staffing and operational costs for 12 months, enabling the facilities to provide integrated primary healthcare services, including outpatient consultations, paediatric care, routine nutrition screening and gender-based violence (GBV) services.

As part of the project, 5,000 children under five and 2,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women will receive regular nutritional assessments to help identify malnutrition early and ensure those requiring support are referred for treatment and follow-up care.

For Ruqayya, every child who recovers is a reminder of why the work matters. "Seeing a child's health improve is my greatest motivation to continue".