Geneva: The United Nations has raised alarm over a disturbing rise in abductions and enforced disappearances in Syria, reporting that at least 97 individuals have gone missing since the beginning of 2025. The figure, highlighted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), is considered likely to be an underestimation due to the ongoing challenges of monitoring in conflict-affected areas.
According to OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al Keetan, the situation underscores the persistent fragility in Syria despite the formal conclusion of the country’s 13-year civil war. “The ongoing insecurity and lack of access to certain regions make it extremely difficult to account for all missing persons. Families live in fear and uncertainty,” Al Keetan said during a briefing in Geneva.
Syria has experienced significant political upheaval over the past year. In an 11-day military offensive, the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) successfully ousted the Assad regime, ending the long-standing civil war. However, the transition has not brought stability. Instead, a vacuum of power has contributed to an environment where human rights abuses, including abductions, can proliferate.
During Bashar al-Assad’s rule, tens of thousands of Syrians were reported missing, many victims of state-orchestrated forced disappearances. The OHCHR’s current findings indicate that the pattern of human rights violations continues, now under a different configuration of authority, perpetuating fear among civilians.
The reported disappearances span several regions, including Syria’s southern governorates and coastal areas, where insecurity and limited access hamper investigations. Notably, Hamza Al-Amarin, a volunteer humanitarian worker, disappeared in July while assisting evacuation efforts in Sweida. His whereabouts remain unknown, reflecting the broader risks faced by civilians and aid workers alike.
Families of the missing are often hesitant to engage with authorities or international organizations due to the threat of retaliation. The lack of reliable information compounds their distress, leaving communities in prolonged uncertainty.
The recent surge in abductions has several implications. First, it highlights a fragile rule of law, as the new power structures have yet to establish credible mechanisms for civilian protection. Second, the accountability gap remains alarming: thousands remain missing from the Assad era, and the new wave of disappearances threatens to deepen this legacy of impunity. Third, the humanitarian impact is profound, prolonging trauma for families and obstructing pathways to reconciliation.
Finally, these developments carry regional and international consequences. Syria’s instability continues to affect humanitarian operations, reconstruction efforts, and diplomatic initiatives aimed at peacebuilding. Without proper monitoring and accountability, the human cost of conflict remains high, even after active warfare subsides.
The UN continues to urge Syrian authorities to establish transparent mechanisms to investigate disappearances and support families of the missing. Recommendations include public disclosure of lists of missing persons, independent forensic investigations, and secure channels for witnesses to come forward. International organizations and donor states are encouraged to tie aid and reconstruction support to adherence to human rights norms and recovery of missing persons.
The OHCHR’s report serves as a stark reminder that ending large-scale hostilities does not automatically ensure safety or justice for civilians. The persistent phenomenon of abductions and enforced disappearances demonstrates that the path to stability and reconciliation in Syria requires a concentrated focus on human security, accountability, and support for affected families.