Damascus is transitioning after the fall of the Assad government, but it remains a complex and high-risk operating environment. HTS authority is new and contested, armed factions remain active and medical infrastructure is degraded.
Standard insurance will not cover this environment. Conflict Cover provides specialist cover for journalists, NGOs, contractors and humanitarian workers operating in Damascus and across Syria.
Damascus is rated conflict-level risk. Standard insurance will not provide meaningful cover.
The post-Assad transition has created new access but has not normalised the security environment. Specialist cover is required for all non-combatant work in Damascus and Syria.
Can you get insurance for Damascus?
We provide specialist insurance for non-combatants working in Damascus — journalists, NGOs, contractors, researchers and humanitarian workers — where standard policies offer no meaningful protection.
Cover is subject to accurate disclosure of the full operational picture including your role, itinerary and security arrangements.
Security context
The situation
Damascus is now under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) following the fall of the Assad government in late 2024. The city has undergone rapid political transition, with HTS-affiliated governance structures replacing Ba'athist institutions. The transition has opened access for international organisations but has not resolved the underlying security complexity. Armed factions with differing loyalties remain present, and the authority of the new administration is still being tested in the streets.
For journalists, humanitarian workers and contractors, Damascus presents a more permissive environment than during the height of the conflict — but it is not a normalised operating environment. Checkpoints, militia presence and the unpredictability of factional authority mean that movement in and around the city requires careful planning. The airport has resumed limited international operations but can be subject to disruption.
Medical infrastructure in Damascus is functioning at a partial level. Hospitals have been damaged, staffing has fluctuated and supply chains remain unreliable. For serious trauma or medical emergencies, evacuation to Beirut or Amman remains the contingency plan for international personnel.
What to watch
Why it can be challenging
Fractured armed group landscape
HTS controls the centre of Damascus but multiple armed factions operate in and around the city. Non-combatants can be targeted or detained by groups acting on different authority structures. Clear identification and documented affiliation are essential.
Residual IS insurgency and targeted killings
Islamic State maintains a presence in areas surrounding Damascus and has conducted targeted killings against individuals perceived as collaborating with any governing authority. The risk is highest for anyone associated with new governance structures or international organisations.
Severely degraded medical infrastructure
Years of conflict have damaged hospital capacity across Damascus. Al-Mouwassat and Tishreen hospitals are operational but with reduced capability. For complex trauma cases, medical evacuation via Beirut is the standard plan for international organisations.
Checkpoint and detention risk
Movement through Damascus involves multiple checkpoints operated by HTS forces, residual government units and informal militia groups. Documentation requirements are inconsistent. Detention or vehicle seizure can occur without formal legal basis.
Emergency support
NGS provides around-the-clock emergency support for policyholders working in Damascus and across Syria. They can assess the situation, coordinate medical care, support evacuation and manage the case through to a safer outcome.
In an environment where conditions can change quickly and where local medical infrastructure is limited, this real-time support capability is not optional — it is the core of what makes specialist cover meaningful.
24/7 response
Round-the-clock emergency support every day of the year
Medical coordination
Coordinating appropriate care including evacuation to Beirut or Amman
Evacuation support
Evacuation coordination where conditions allow, including alternative exit routes
Case management
Management of the incident through to a safer outcome
Exclusions
Being clear about exclusions helps buyers know exactly what this policy is for and where separate cover may be needed.
This policy is designed to protect people, not possessions.
Cover not included
Activity exclusions
Property exclusions
These covers can be arranged separately if required.
Threat intelligence
For a deeper understanding of the current situation, including operational risks and regional dynamics, see our threat intelligence hub.
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