Syrian Alawite families claim UN aid diverted to militias

Displaced Alawite families in Syria have accused major aid organizations of redirecting United Nations assistance to the very militias responsible for sectarian violence against their community. Several families told The Jerusalem Post that support meant for victims of the recent coastal massacre is being distributed to Sunni groups, some of which are linked to the new regime under Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The allegations were supported by photos of armed gangs patrolling UN aid distribution points. These images were shared alongside posts by workers from the Syrian American Relief Council, or SARC, which appears to have expressed support for the attacks on ethnic and religious minorities. A Syrian source, who asked not to be identified, described the situation as increasingly desperate. The source argued that relying on an organization perceived as biased against Alawites has led to a failure in ensuring aid reaches intended recipients safely.

R., speaking on behalf of her family and two others sharing a small apartment in rural Hama, described their experience at a SARC center in Latakia. She and her neighbors were told to register for blankets and mattresses. Upon arrival, they were confronted by individuals wearing Syrian General Security uniforms who accused them of being remnants of the former Assad regime. Despite insisting they had no affiliation with the previous government, the family felt the aid was ultimately given to Bedouins who had previously looted their homes.

R. stated that she and her neighbors saw their names replaced on recipient lists with those of local militias or individuals connected to SARC. Although her family submitted multiple complaints to the UNHCR, the agency did not confirm receipt in its response. A UNHCR spokesperson noted that aid distribution follows established eligibility criteria without distinction based on religious or ethnic background. The spokesperson added that recipients are identified through assessments and household visits, with lists checked for duplication.

The context of these claims follows the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, which was led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham. The Assad family and many military officials were Alawite. Since the regime's collapse, minorities have faced continued persecution. A UN investigative team confirmed last year that war crimes were likely committed during the March 2025 coastal massacre, which killed approximately 1,400 people, mostly Alawite civilians.

R. witnessed the violence firsthand, including the death of her cousin. She recalled that militias forced her family to flee their village again after they had already displaced to Hama, where their homes were burned and looted. The family had previously been told by community leaders to register with SARC, yet they faced hostility from armed groups at the distribution site.

T., another displaced man, provided a video interview showing bandages on a foot injured by a bullet while he tried to flee the massacre in Jableh, Latakia. He described how elderly and disabled neighbors who could not move were left behind and killed. T. believed that UNHCR and SARC were complicit in the violence, noting that aid delivered to his neighborhood was allegedly stolen by the same militias that had shot him shortly after cameras left.

T. described the distribution efforts as a photo opportunity lacking adequate protection. He claimed his paternal uncle was killed while attempting to collect UN aid. He noted that Bedouins were brought in front of cameras to receive food, while Alawites who registered under the guidance of local governors received nothing. He emphasized that many Alawites who worked in government sectors, including doctors, have lost their jobs and livelihoods.

The families argue that the destruction of their property, including olive trees and homes, occurred in full view of international media. Despite documentation from reporters and television networks, T. said the international community has done little to address the ongoing displacement and economic hardship faced by the Alawite community.