SYRIA: More than 2,000 displaced Syriacs–Assyrians chose to remain in villages, displaced from Hmoth (Homs)

HMOTH, Syria — Following the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) takeover of the Syrian government on 8 December, the group expanded its control over major cities, including Holeb (Aleppo), Hemto (Hama), and Hmoth (Homs). The uncertainty surrounding the events displaced thousands of Syriacs–Assyrians residents from Hmoth to surrounding countryside villages.

The mass exodus unfolded amidst widespread panic after the abrupt retreat of the elements of the former authoritarian Syrian regime. Despite the passing days since the regime’s fall, many families have opted to remain in rural areas due to lingering uncertainties about Syria’s future and the safety of returning to their cities.

Local relief committees reported that approximately 800 displaced Syriac–Assyrian families have taken refuge in nearby villages. They received direct contact from over 700 families but estimate the total number of displaced families to be around 1,000. The committees also estimated that about 2,500 Syriac–Assyrian individuals have fled, with the total potentially exceeding 3,000.

Immediate needs include food, clothing, detergents, 750 mattresses, and 850 blankets, as nighttime temperatures have dropped significantly, exacerbating the hardship for the displaced.

The Syriac–Assyrian community remains apprehensive, awaiting decisions from the HTS-led transitional government regarding its approach to the religious and ethnic pluralism that has historically defined Syria.