Syrian Red Crescent Convoy Delivers Aid to Suwayda Amid Critical Humanitarian Crisis

Suwayda, Syria, July 29, 2025 – A humanitarian aid convoy organized by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) entered Suwayda province on Monday, delivering critical supplies to a region reeling from recent deadly clashes. The United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that the humanitarian situation in the Druze-majority province remains dire due to ongoing instability, roadblocks, and intermittent hostilities, which continue to restrict aid access.

According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the 27-truck convoy carried 200 tonnes of flour, 2,000 shelter kits, 1,000 food baskets, and medical and other essential supplies. The effort was a collaborative initiative involving international organizations, the Syrian government, and local communities. This marks the third such convoy to reach Suwayda since a fragile ceasefire was established following violent clashes that began on July 13, 2025. The clashes, initially between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin tribes, escalated with the involvement of Syrian government forces supporting the Bedouin, according to witnesses and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The violence, which killed over 250 people and displaced 128,571, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration, also prompted Israeli airstrikes on Syrian military targets in Damascus and Suwayda. Israel claimed its intervention was to protect the Druze community, referring to them as its “brothers.” Despite the ceasefire, OCHA reported that power and water outages, along with shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, have left Suwayda in a critical state. “Humanitarian access, due to roadblocks, insecurity, and other impediments, remains constrained, hampering the ability of humanitarians to assess needs thoroughly and provide critical life-saving assistance on a large scale,” OCHA stated. Local outlet Suwayda24 described the situation as a “humanitarian catastrophe,” noting a severe lack of basic supplies due to an “escalating siege” imposed by authorities. The outlet reported protests across the province on Monday, with residents demanding more humanitarian aid. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights highlighted that the closure of the Suwayda-Damascus highway by government-affiliated groups has further impeded the delivery of goods. However, Suwayda’s Governor, Mustafa al-Bakkur, claimed on Sunday that aid convoys were entering the province without obstruction. The violence and its fallout have drawn international concern. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasized the importance of Syria’s territorial integrity and the need for political stability that respects all ethnic and religious groups. Similarly, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz called for sustained de-escalation and an end to Israeli military actions, urging support for the Syrian government’s efforts to restore calm and prevent civilian casualties. As Suwayda grapples with the aftermath of the clashes, the arrival of the SARC convoy offers some relief, but local and international calls for unhindered humanitarian access and a lasting resolution to the crisis grow louder