DAMASCUS, 22 April 2025 – More than 416,000 children in Syria are now at significant risk of severe malnutrition following the sudden suspension of US government funding that forced the closure of one third of Save the Children’s life-saving nutrition activities across the country.
Data compiled by a group of humanitarian organisations operating in Syria shows that in nearly half of the country’s districts, more than 50% of children under five with severe acute malnutrition are not receiving the treatment they need. Malnutrition cases in Syria have been rising for years, but funding cuts have exacerbated an already dire situation.
Twenty out of 50 of Save the Children’s nutrition programmes across Syria were forced to suddenly halt operations, stopping vital care for over 40,500 children under the age of five. These centres provided therapeutic food such as fortified peanut paste and milks and health services to treat and prevent severe and acute malnutrition.
Malnutrition in children weakens immune systems, stunts growth, and leaves children highly vulnerable to diseases such as diarrhoea and pneumonia. Without timely treatment, the most severe form, known as wasting, can quickly become fatal.
Halmia*, 25, mother of a malnourished baby:
“My baby’s just four months old. She was born premature, she’s malnourished, and she’s had bronchitis for weeks. The clinic doesn’t have the special milk she needs.”
The doctor explained:
“We’ve run out of the therapeutic milk that helps malnourished babies recover. Without the right treatment, the baby’s recovery from bronchitis will take much longer. Her body is already weak, so she’s much more likely to catch other illnesses and will struggle to fight them off.”
Bujar Hoxha, Save the Children’s Country Director in Syria, said:
“The closure of these nutrition centres comes at the worst possible time. The needs in Syria are higher than ever, yet the funding needed to support children is being ripped away. These are not just numbers, they are real children, real lives, being left to die.
“Children in Syria have already endured more than 14 years of conflict, displacement, and an economic collapse. They are paying the price for decisions made thousands of miles away. The international community must urgently step up to fill this gap, we cannot play politics with children’s lives.”
More than 650,000 children under the age of five in Syria are chronically malnourished, according to nutrition data. This long-term form of malnutrition – also known as stunting - causes irreversible damage to the physical and cognitive development of children, impacting their capacity to learn and productivity, with consequences that can affect them for the rest of their lives.
After 14 years of conflict, Syria’ healthcare system and economy is on the verge of collapse, leaving most families unable to afford food, clean water or basic medical care. Today, more than 7.5 million children across the country need humanitarian assistance, the highest number since the crisis began.
The impact of US government funding cuts is being felt across Syria. Even clinics that have not been forced to close are now even more overwhelmed, reporting a surge in malnutrition cases while struggling to keep up with the growing demand for care.
Aid cuts are already having a devastating impact on children –this is just one example of many that we are seeing. The UK government recently announced cuts to its own aid budget, and while the details of where they will fall remain unclear, Save the Children urges the UK to reverse their cuts to aid to help build global stability and protect children's futures.
Save the Children is calling on international donors to urgently restore funding for critical nutrition services in Syria and ensure children continue to receive the life-saving treatment they need.
Save the Children has been working in Syria since 2012 and supports families across the country, both directly and through local partners. The organisation provides nutrition services, health care, education, protection, and cash assistance to help children survive, recover and build a better future.