DAMASCUS – British actor and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Theo James delivered a sobering assessment of Syria’s humanitarian situation this week, warning that the crisis persists despite political changes, as he observed widespread destruction and struggling communities during visits to Damascus, Zabadani and Eastern Ghouta.
“I am hopeful for the future after meeting with Syrians who chose to return to their homes – though for many people, not much is left of their homes,” James said following his visit to meet refugees who have returned since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government. “At the same time, I have seen that the humanitarian crisis isn’t over. So much of the infrastructure has been destroyed, access to basic services is hard, schools and hospitals have been damaged and finding work is a struggle.”
The stark reality facing returnees underscores the scale of Syria’s reconstruction challenge. According to
, approximately 16.5 million people in Syria – nearly 90 percent of the population – still require humanitarian assistance, even as roughly 1.4 million refugees have returned to the country since December 2024.
During his visit, James met with families receiving shelter and livelihood support from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, including one family that had spent years in Jordan’s Zaatari refugee camp, which he had visited in 2023. He also participated in discussions with women about their challenges in rebuilding their lives and communities after years of displacement.
The timing of James’s visit coincides with renewed violence in northeast Syria, where recent fighting has forced thousands more Syrians to flee their homes. UNHCR is providing support to the most vulnerable, though officials emphasise that safety and security remain the primary needs for displaced populations.
UNHCR Representative in Syria Gonzalo Vargas Llosa called James’s visit “a powerful gesture of solidarity with refugees and displaced families who have endured years of hardship.”
The humanitarian response faces significant constraints. Severe funding cuts are impacting UNHCR’s assistance programs in Syria, even as the agency works to support displaced people and returnees through shelter assistance, home repairs, legal protection and livelihoods support.
James, who has supported UNHCR since 2016 and was appointed Goodwill Ambassador in 2024, brings a personal connection to Syria’s refugee story. His grandfather fled Greece during World War II and found safety in Damascus, an experience James said shaped his understanding of displacement.
“As I stand here in Damascus, I think of the journey my grandfather made after escaping war in Greece. He was welcomed by the people of Syria and found shelter in this historic city,” James said. “His experience instilled in me that all of us – anyone, anywhere – can become a refugee.”
The actor, known for roles in The Gentlemen and The White Lotus, has maintained more than a decade of advocacy for Syrian refugees, including previous visits to displaced populations in Greece, France and Jordan.
