Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development announced measures in support of Canada’s concrete commitment to deliver much-needed humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people and to support a transition to an inclusive and peaceful future where all Syrians can live with dignity and security.

Since the fall of the Assad regime, Syrians have embarked on a new chapter, but significant challenges remain as they strive for stability, reconstruction, and peace. After decades of oppression and nearly 14 years of brutal conflict, an estimated 90% of Syrians now live below the poverty line, with millions in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

As part of today’s announcement, Canada is providing $84 million in new funding for humanitarian assistance to Syria. Canada is also taking steps to ease existing sanctions for a period of 6 months, to support democratization, stabilization, and the delivery of aid to and within Syria during this period of transition.  

To achieve this, Canada announced the issuance of a general permit, valid for a period of 6 months, under the Special Economic Measures Permit Authorization Order that temporarily allows any person in Canada and Canadians outside Canada to carry out transactions of funds and related financial services when provided in support of democratization, stabilization and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to and within Syria that are otherwise prohibited under the Special Economic Measures (Syria) Regulations (the “Syria Regulations”), including through 7 specific Syrian state-owned and affiliated banks that are all currently sanctioned under the Syria Regulations.

The issuance of the general permit underscores Canada’s support for Syrians and its commitment to contributing to political stabilization, a peaceful transition, increased humanitarian assistance, early recovery, reconstruction, and economic development in Syria. It is also in line with similar measures taken by Canada’s international partners – including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union – to ease their own sanctions on Syria to support the recovery of the country’s economy and its political transition toward peace and prosperity.

Today’s announcement builds on other recent announcements and initiatives since December 2024, including:

• Providing $17.25 million in funding for humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of the Syrian people. Delivered through experienced humanitarian partners, this funding will help provide clean water and food, protection services, sanitation and hygiene services, and health services.
• Appointing Omar Alghabra as Canada’s new Special Envoy for Syria to advise the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, on Canadian efforts to support the Syrian people in addressing their pressing needs and transition toward an inclusive and peaceful future.
• Advancing regional and international co-operation to support a peaceful transition in Syria and help Syrians rebuild their country at the International Conference on Syria in Paris, France.

This year, Canada has committed over $100 million in humanitarian assistance for Syria. Since 2016, Canada has committed more than $4.7 billion in funding for Syria and countries hosting Syrian refugee populations, including Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. This funding includes significant humanitarian, development and stabilization assistance.

Canada has resettled more than 100,000 Syrian refugees since 2015.