After 14 years of war, the Assad regime was toppled by Syrian rebels. Assad and his family had ruled Syria for 54 years. The collapse of the regime came in a swift two weeks after rebels launched an offensive, taking major cities in Syria – Aleppo, Hama, Homs – on the way to Damascus.
Syrians are jubilant, celebrating in the streets as the authoritarian Assad fled the country, seeking refuge in Russia. There are over 6.3 million Syrian refugees living abroad, with millions others internally displaced. Hundreds of Syrians are lining up at the Turkish and Lebanese border crossing, returning home at last.
Rescue operations are further underway at Assad’s Sednaya prison, nicknamed the “Human Slaughterhouse.” The prison was a military prison near Damascus, with stories underground that contained prisoners. It was used as a torture site, with over 150,000 Syrians arrested between March 2011 and August 2024. The objective was to terrorize and scare Syrians into submission, with horrific tactics – whipping detainees, depriving prisoners of sleep, electrocuting them, raping men, and women, and imprisoning them for years on end without any reprieve.
As rebels took the city of Damascus, they broke into central prisons, releasing the political prisoners. Countless families have been reunited with loved ones, who they previously thought had passed.
After more than a decade of war, Syrians and their allies are ready for a new era for the country. Syria can rebuild what Assad had utterly destroyed – the families, homes, and morale. As the country ushers in a new era, we call on people around the world to support Syrians, especially as the need for aid increases. Millions of civilians are in need of aid in Syria, especially for hunger and food insecurity.
With the political vacuum now in place, Syria’s vulnerable civilians are at risk. According to Middle East Eye, the escalation of violence and militarization of aid has created an unsafe environment for humanitarian activity. Since the end of November, 30 different NGOs in Idlib have suspended their work. Syria needs your help in taking this victory to be sustainable and effective. You can donate to Helping Hand’s campaign for Syria Refugee Relief here.
