When rebels advanced through Aleppo province, the first instinct was fear. Fear that violence would erupt, that the Assad regime would bomb Damascus, that the rebels may not succeed in liberating Syrians.

But there was also hope, which grew with each day. Sara, Executive Manager at Syrian organisation Swaadna Al Souriya says, “at the beginning, we thought that the opposition armed group would liberate some rural areas in Aleppo province. When they controlled Aleppo city, we thought the battle’s aim was to force Assad to join the negotiations with Turkey. After one week, [when they] controlled Hama, then we felt that the battle would be for liberating of Syria.”

It took one day for the rebels to liberate Homs city, and to take Damascus without a fight. For Syrians, survivors of a brutal 14-year dictatorship, disbelief gave way to utter joy in the early hours of the morning.

“We didn’t believe that for a while, then we started to celebrate (it was 5am), and some of us gathered with other Syrians in the public yard and started to hug each other, to cry, some of us started to dance and we were in a historical moment.”

“We were very happy as if our dreams became reality in one second, we felt with hope again, we forgot all the suffering of 14 years in one moment.”

While Swaadna’s hope and happiness remain, the liberation of Syria is revealing more and more of the horrors of the Assad regime – liberated prisoners speak of the torture they experienced, and hundreds of thousands of people disappeared by the regime are still missing.

“The Syrian people suffered from lot of war crimes, hundreds of thousands were detained or forced disappeared by the Syrian Security branches, most of those men, women and children were killed under torture. Cities and towns were bombed and destroyed, many mascaras were committed by different weapons, and many people forced to displace their houses and their properties were stolen.”

What’s next for peacebuilders in Syria?

With Bashar Al-Assad, “the root of the Syrian crises” is gone, Syria’s peacebuilders are focused on justice and recovery. “We need to recover from the 14 years of war and 54 years of oppression and fear, so we need all efforts to build the peace between the Syrians from different ethnics, religions, cults, and areas.”

Across Syria, communities have begun forming local committees to manage their areas and provide key services, and young people have led local initiatives to clean the streets and public parks.

“The local peacebuilders now can participate in avoiding any possibility of new civil war in Syria, by supporting the efforts of Justice and accountability of war criminals, participating in national dialogue among the different groups of Syria about the Syrian constitution, promoting the efforts of empowering the vulnerable groups as women, children, IDPs, PWD, youth to have their rights, and creating new livelihoods for poor families.”

Justice is absolutely vital. “Today without justice and accountability of war criminals from all groups, angry people may try to revenge their lives and loved people by themselves, because they will feel depressed of the new system which ignores their suffering for years. These may begin a civil war in Syria and undercut the peace efforts.

The justice also can change the different oppressed narratives of Syrian groups, and then we can start a new age with no hate, malice between the Syrians.

Justice is the only way to prevent the war criminals from participating in controlling the country again.”

Saidnaya prison where thousands of Syrians were killed under torture. Torture in prisons. Syria December 12, 2024

Saidnaya prison where thousands of Syrians were killed under torture. Syria, 12 December 2024. Via Shutterstock.

International support must centre local voices

Now, the situation inside Syria is very fragile, and Swaadna emphasises that Syrians need significant effort internally and internationally to overcome the current difficulties and challenges.

“I think the support to Syria must be long-term planned, organized, and target local Syrian organisations, teams, and initiatives inside Syria.”

Crucially, local voices and needs must be at the heart of all international solidarity. It’s time for support “to meet the Syrian’s priorities, not the supporters’ priorities.”

There is a dire need for humanitarian support, “because we are getting out of a war that lasted for 14 years and destroyed hundreds of thousands of houses, markets, and many factories and workshops, killed many experts and young people and forced millions to flee Syria.”

There are urgent short-term needs for food, hygiene, heating and shelter. While most Syrians need this solidarity, the internally displaced are a high priority.

But the needs are not short-term. In the medium and long-term, Swaadna calls for support focused on education, livelihoods, justice and peacebuilding. They say the media must end their neglect of Syria – “speak about Syria and highlight the Syrian efforts to rebuild their country, not to forget it as the last 5 years” – and “give space to Syrians” to share their voices and efforts.

Finally, Swaadna calls for a commitment from the media to do better. To end the pattern of ignoring Syria’s long suffering – “to speak about Syria and highlight the Syrian efforts to rebuild their country, not to forget it as the last 5 years.” Most importantly, the media must create space for “Syrians to present their thoughts and efforts.”

If the media can help showcase the vital work of Syrian peacebuilders, it can help counter dehumanization, increase empathy and solidarity, support accountability and transform narratives of peace and conflict.

Whether or not the international community can make the commitments Syrians need, Sara and the team at Swaadna “believe in the Syrian People, and in their strong will to rebuild a peaceful and democratic country for all Syrians.”