In Syria today, families are receiving heartbreaking messages that no one should ever have to read.

“Don’t wait for her. She’s not coming back.”

There are dozens of reports of Alawite women and girls, who belong to a religious and ethnic minority group, being abducted from their homes, schools, and streets since December 2024. These abductions began following the government transition, and, as we know, when conflict erupts, violence against women and girls spikes. 

Families are being extorted for ransoms of up to $100,000. Some have received calls from their daughters, terrified and trapped. Others have heard nothing at all.

A young woman stands in front of a window at the UNFPA-supported center in Homs.

One survivor described being held for months with other young women, listening to the threats of traffickers and fearing for her life every moment.

The terror these women and girls face is endless — and it’s happening in silence, in the shadows, with far too little support or attention.

UNFPA has been on the ground in Syria since 1971 and has spent decades responding to the triple crises of child marriage, high maternal death rates, and gender inequality.

Your support today ensures survivors of violence continue to have access to safe shelters and trauma care, and a chance to rebuild their lives.

Every moment matters. Every woman and girl deserves safety and dignity — no matter where they live.

Thank you for standing with them.

— USA for UNFPA