Syria after Assad's fall: reconstruction between hope and crisis!

Syria after Assad's fall: reconstruction between hope and crisis!

A year after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad by the Islamist rebel alliance HTS (Haiat Tahrir al-Sham), Syria is showing a divided mood. This mix of hope and skepticism is not unexpected. While some Syrians see the new political changes as an opportunity, many consider the new government's competence to be insufficient. The new rulers are confronted with enormous challenges, particularly with regard to the reconstruction and elimination of old power structures. This is reported by the Kleine Zeitung, which has analyzed the situation in Syria in the last few months.

After 14 years of civil war, the Assad government has finally lost its power. But the defense of Aleppo, which was massively destroyed by Russian bombing raids, requires great commitment. Reconstruction will be expensive; the World Bank estimates the cost at a staggering $216 billion. The population, which numbers around 25 million people, is facing massive problems. More than 16 million residents are currently dependent on humanitarian aid, including seven million children, according to UNICEF. At the same time, many citizens have decided to return to Syria to find some sense of normality, even at the risk that ethnic tensions and violence will continue.

Challenges and opportunities in reconstruction

Syria therefore faces a mountain of challenges, including dealing with mass graves and demining. Disaster Management Minister Raed Al-Saleh warned of the inevitable difficulties of the destroyed infrastructure. In this context, important conferences have recently taken place that deal with concrete solutions for reconstruction. Under the title “Local solutions for sustainable impact,” local actors and representatives of Syrian civil society called for honest dialogue and joint efforts. The aid organization Help took on an important role as a mediator.

The first conference on humanitarian aid and reconstruction aims to pool experiences on the ground and develop concrete proposals for the international community and the Syrian government. The results of these dialogues will be published in a joint communiqué that provides important guidelines for localizing reconstruction in the Syrian context. The focus is on Syrian organizations and civil society itself contributing to the solutions.

Political uncertainties and the new government

In addition to the challenges of reconstruction, the political situation in Syria remains more tense than ever. The new government under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was publicly welcomed by international leaders such as Vladimir Putin and US President Trump, is under pressure. Human rights organizations criticize the first parliamentary elections after the fall of Assad, in which Sunni forces in particular won. Women and minorities are hardly heard, which raises calls for more democracy and equality among the population. According to ZDF, there have already been clashes against the Alawites, which further increases the political uncertainty in the country.

Overall, Syria's future remains uncertain. While the desire for reconstruction and normality is strong among the population, many are waiting for tangible results and the overcoming of the existing challenges. The coming months will be crucial for the country and its people as they hope for a new beginning.