Switzerland upgrades its presence in Syria
Bern, 09.07.2026 — Syria has been undergoing fundamental change since the fall of the Assad regime at the end of 2024. This has prompted Switzerland to step up its efforts to promote a political transition and the country's socio-economic development. Its existing humanitarian office was therefore upgraded to a cooperation office at the beginning of 2026. SDC Director General Patricia Danzi and Ambassador Monika Schmutz Kirgöz, head of the FDFA's MENA Division, officially opened the cooperation office in Damascus on 8 July 2026. They also saw for themselves what Switzerland is now doing on the ground.
More than a decade since conflict broke out the situation in Syria is still one of great uncertainty. More than 16 million people are reliant on humanitarian aid. At the same time the ousting of Bashar al-Assad has opened up new prospects. “The situation in Syria and the region remains fragile, and the humanitarian needs are still considerable. The cooperation office in Damascus enables us to stay close to the people who need help. Alongside our humanitarian aid we are now also targeting support at improving longer-term prospects,” said Ms Danzi, director general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
Through the cooperation office Switzerland is reinforcing its support for a peaceful and inclusive political transition, as well as reforms and development policy action. The aim is to promote stability and advancement to achieve a lasting peace. Here Switzerland has set four priority areas for the years ahead: human development, climate and the environment, economic growth, and peace and governance.
Commenting on meetings with representatives of Syria's transitional government, Monika Schmutz Kirgöz, head of the FDFA's MENA Division, said: “It has emerged from discussions with the ministry of foreign affairs that, despite the many challenges it faces, the transitional government continues to pursue its objective of rebuilding the country. Switzerland sees this as an opportunity for an inclusive Syria, and is supporting efforts to this end.”
Long the only country with an ongoing humanitarian presence in Damascus
Switzerland maintained an SDC humanitarian office in Damascus from 2017 onwards. Up to the end of 2024 it was the only country with an ongoing humanitarian presence in the Syrian capital. Upgrading the humanitarian office to a cooperation office gives Switzerland additional instruments and competencies. With social, economic and political developments in the region closely interwoven, Switzerland is pursuing an approach that considers regional needs. The activities of the cooperation office will be carried out jointly by the SDC, the FDFA's Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), ensuring that Swiss foreign policy is implemented coherently. Diplomatic and consular matters in Syria will continue to be handled by the Swiss embassy in Beirut.