Helping Syria’s recovery the smart thing to do

After more than a decade of war, Syria finds itself at a crucial turning point. Its infrastructure is devastated, its economy shattered and its people exhausted, yet, amid the ashes of destruction, a new chapter is unfolding.

A new government, led by President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, has taken the reins. This fresh leadership has launched a series of efforts aimed at stabilizing and rebuilding the war-torn nation. However, despite the determination of this administration to bring the Syrian Arab Republic back to its feet, the enormity of the challenges it faces cannot be overstated. Without robust and sustained international support — particularly from the West — Syria’s road to recovery will be long, slow and fraught with further hardship.

The Syrian people, who have borne the brunt of the conflict, deserve a genuine chance to rebuild their lives. This can only happen through meaningful cooperation, especially in the form of lifting economic sanctions and providing aid for reconstruction.

The new government has moved swiftly to demonstrate its commitment to national reconciliation and stabilization. One of its most notable steps was the forging of a political agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which control significant portions of northeastern Syria. The agreement includes the withdrawal of SDF fighters from critical areas such as Aleppo’s Sheikh Maksoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods, allowing for their integration into the national army.

The Syrian people, who have borne the brunt of the conflict, deserve a genuine chance to rebuild their lives

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

In return, the Kurds have been promised constitutional recognition, including the right to teach the Kurdish language in schools and to secure citizenship for stateless Kurdish residents. This initiative marks a radical departure from the divisive and authoritarian policies of the previous regime and is geared toward unifying Syria’s fractured society.

In parallel, Al-Sharaa has launched a regional diplomatic offensive, including planned high-profile visits to the UAE and Turkiye next week, in an effort to rebuild diplomatic ties, attract investment and foster goodwill. These actions underline a genuine desire to end Syria’s isolation and reengage with the international community, but these efforts will falter if Syria continues to be encircled by sweeping international sanctions.

Reconstruction is at the heart of Syria’s recovery. The sheer scale of the destruction is staggering. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble. Schools, hospitals, power stations, water facilities and transport networks have been either heavily damaged or completely destroyed.

Many schools have been rendered unusable and, according to international estimates, nearly half a million children are currently out of school in the northeast of the country alone. Scores of hospitals are nonoperational and many that remain open are working without electricity, clean water or basic medical supplies. Without reconstruction, there can be no return to normality. People cannot return to cities that have no running water, no schools and no jobs. Refugees and internally displaced persons will not go home if there is nothing left to return to. Reconstruction is not merely about building roads and bridges, it is about rebuilding hope.

To achieve this monumental task, Syria needs far more than goodwill — it needs substantial financial assistance and expert knowledge. The cost of rebuilding the country has been estimated at more than $250 billion. Syria, in its current economic condition, cannot finance this on its own. In recognition of this, international donors have already pledged about $6.5 billion at various summits, including the most recent gathering in Brussels last month. While this is a valuable start, it is only a drop in the ocean compared to what is required.

Beyond capital, Syria needs expertise: engineers to design modern infrastructure, educators to reform the education system, healthcare professionals to revive public health services, and urban planners to create livable, resilient cities. International aid should also include training programs for Syrians so that the country can build local capacity and reduce long-term dependency. The involvement of international institutions, nongovernmental organizations and private companies is essential — not only to bring in the required skills and materials but also to provide oversight and ensure that funds are used transparently and effectively.

Reconstruction and international assistance will directly improve the lives of millions of Syrians. With foreign investment and expertise, power plants can be repaired, hospitals can be restocked and children can go back to school. Jobs can be created through infrastructure projects, which will stimulate the local economy and give people a sense of purpose and stability.

As livelihoods return, the incentive to migrate will decrease. Refugees will feel more confident about returning home. Restoring dignity to the Syrian people is perhaps the greatest achievement such assistance can bring. The wounds of war are deep, but with coordinated support and a comprehensive rebuilding strategy, they can begin to heal.

The benefits of supporting Syria’s reconstruction are not limited to the country’s borders — they extend globally, especially to Western nations. A stable Syria reduces the threat of extremism and armed conflict in the region, which in turn lowers the risk of terrorism and destabilization in Europe and beyond. Rebuilding Syria would also mitigate the refugee crisis that has strained the social and political fabric of many European countries.

Economic recovery in Syria can open new markets for international trade, investment and cooperation. Moreover, playing a leading role in reconstruction would give Western countries a renewed moral standing in the region — showing that their foreign policy is not solely defined by sanctions and military intervention, but also by a commitment to peace, recovery and human dignity. The return on investment is not only humanitarian, but also geopolitical and economic. It is in the West’s long-term interest to have a functioning, stable partner in Syria rather than a broken state at the heart of the Middle East.

Syria needs far more than goodwill — it needs substantial financial assistance and expert knowledge

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

Finally, sanctions remain one of the greatest obstacles to Syria’s recovery. Originally imposed to punish the Assad regime for its brutal repression and human rights abuses, these measures have now morphed into a blanket punishment of the Syrian population. Some of these economic restrictions have plunged Syria into an abyss of poverty and deprivation.

More than 90 percent of the population now lives below the poverty line. Food insecurity affects more than 13 million Syrians and inflation has pushed basic necessities beyond the reach of ordinary families. Power grids remain down in large swaths of the country. Clean water is a luxury in many areas. The dire situation has discouraged even well-meaning NGOs and international institutions from investing in recovery projects.

Lifting all sanctions would be an acknowledgment of the new political reality in Syria and a recognition that punishing the population only fuels instability. It would open the doors for humanitarian assistance, economic investment and technical cooperation, which are desperately needed to set Syria on a path to peace and prosperity.

In conclusion, the international community — and the West in particular — must rise to the occasion and assist Syria in its journey toward recovery. The new government has taken bold and promising steps to stabilize the country and reach out for support. But unless all sanctions are lifted, and unless there is a concerted effort to fund and lead reconstruction efforts, the suffering of the Syrian people will continue.

Syria’s recovery is not only a moral imperative, it is a strategic necessity. It will benefit not only Syrians but also the broader international community by enhancing regional stability, curbing extremism, reducing refugee flows and opening new avenues for cooperation and development. Helping Syria back on its feet is not charity — it is smart, forward-looking policy that serves shared global interests.

• Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian American political scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh