Syria’s reconstruction could take decades — The National

Syria’s recovery from the destruction of the civil war could take several decades, while the volume of international aid currently does not meet the country’s needs. This was stated by Tjada McKenna, executive director of the international humanitarian organization Prosper Global, in an interview with The National.

According to McKenna, she recently visited Aleppo, Idlib and Damascus, where she saw extensive destruction of housing and vital infrastructure. At the same time, in her assessment, Syrians returning home are showing optimism about rebuilding their lives.

Scale of needs

The World Bank has estimated Syria’s reconstruction costs at approximately $216 billion. This is nearly ten times the size of the country’s economy in 2024. Millions of Syrians remain displaced, although more people have begun returning since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Among the priority needs, McKenna named the restoration of water supply systems and power grids, roads, hospitals and schools. She considers the creation of jobs and sources of income, which would enable people to return home, equally important.

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Shortage of humanitarian resources

According to the head of Prosper Global, Syria is beginning its recovery amid simultaneous crises in different countries and cuts to international humanitarian budgets. As a result, organizations have to respond to growing needs with fewer resources.

Prosper Global provides emergency assistance to displaced Syrians, including cash support, while increasingly focusing on long-term recovery: repairing water infrastructure and supporting agriculture and livelihoods. McKenna noted that Syria’s residents seek not permanent aid but the opportunity to work and access markets.

The easing of Western sanctions, she said, has raised expectations for foreign investment and could expand the range of companies and suppliers able to operate in Syria. At the same time, the scale of reconstruction and competition with other humanitarian crises mean that the transition from emergency aid to economic recovery will take time.