ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Germany’s aid to Syria is being channeled exclusively through the United Nations and non-governmental organizations, not to the interim authorities in Damascus, the German foreign ministry told Rudaw.
“All measures in Syria are being implemented through UN relief agencies and non-governmental organizations,” the ministry stated, emphasizing that “no [direct] payments are being made to the [interim] government.”
According to the statement, Berlin’s assistance is being delivered through short-term programs managed by the World Food Program (WFP), the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and a range of NGOs addressing food security, water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter, health, and mine clearance.
The foreign ministry further noted that Germany’s broader support in Syria also entails addressing war crimes, eliminating chemical weapons left behind by the regime of toppled Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, through the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and stabilizing areas liberated from the Islamic State (ISIS).
Berlin’s “stabilization engagement” includes improving living conditions, maintaining basic services, and promoting de-radicalization, as well as the return and reintegration of displaced persons and those considered close to ISIS.
Annika Clasen-Edris, spokesperson for the German Foreign Office, stated in mid-August that Germany continues to provide humanitarian assistance to Syria, with more than €80 million euros (around $93.5 million) allocated to UN organizations operating inside Syria since the beginning of the year. In a post on X, she added that Berlin provided approximately €220 million (around $257 million) in humanitarian assistance to Syria in 2024.
Syria was devastated by a civil war that began in 2011, killing hundreds of thousands and leaving millions in need of humanitarian aid. According to the UNI, more than 13 million Syrians - almost half the country’s pre-war population - were also displaced, including over six million who fled abroad.
In early December, a coalition of opposition groups - led by the now-dissolved Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), then headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa - toppled the Assad regime. In late January, Sharaa was appointed Syria’s interim president and vowed to pursue an inclusive political process.
In March, the European Union pledged nearly €2.5 billion (around $2.7 billion) in aid for Syria, while Berlin allocated around €300 million (around $327 million) to UN agencies and select organizations assisting Syria.
Despite this, Germany and its European partners continue to adopt a cautious approach toward the new authorities in Damascus, often reiterating that formal recognition or reconstruction funding will only follow the establishment of an inclusive transitional government and verifiable progress on human rights and democratic reforms.
Kehy Mahmoud contributed to this report.