Seoul Funds Second Aid Phase
South Korea launched the second phase of its United Nations-implemented humanitarian and recovery program in Syria on 24 August 2026, committing $18.95 million in US dollars (USD). The package was unveiled at a ceremony in Damascus held under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.
The program is delivered with the acting UN Resident Coordinator, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP), and groups three initiatives aimed at the country's most vulnerable families.
Rubble Removal and Jobs
Under the plan, UNDP will carry out debris clearance, mine action, infrastructure rehabilitation and livelihood support in the governorates of Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor and Idlib. The agency expects to remove about 450,000 tons of rubble and to generate emergency employment while restoring access to basic services.
The UNDP component is projected to benefit 194,490 people directly and to support more than 1.2 million people indirectly, according to the joint statement issued at the launch.
Children and Food Security
UNICEF's contribution targets health, nutrition and education outcomes for at least 400,000 vulnerable children and women, including in hard-to-reach areas and communities hosting returning families.
WFP will provide monthly cash assistance to 10,000 people and deliver malnutrition treatment to 28,000 children under the age of five, along with pregnant and nursing women and girls.
Returns Reshape Recovery
Mohammad Bathish, an official in the ministry's international cooperation department, said more than 3.5 million Syrians have returned to their communities since December 2024, describing the country's path from conflict toward recovery as difficult but hopeful.
He added that a successful recovery would reduce displacement, deepen economic linkages and expand trade and investment across the wider region.
Building on a Larger Pledge
The new phase follows a $38 million humanitarian aid package that South Korea announced in September, also presented at a formal ceremony in Damascus. Seoul's ambassador to Syria, Gyusuk Jun, called the latest launch a significant milestone in his country's support for Syrian communities.