Residents of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria are using small boats to cross the Euphrates River after several bridges became unusable [1].
This shift in transportation highlights the critical collapse of infrastructure in the region. Without functional bridges, the movement of people, goods, and emergency services between the two banks of the river is severely restricted, deepening the humanitarian challenge for the local population.
The reliance on boats follows recent floods in eastern Syria that occurred during 2023 and 2024 [1]. These floods caused significant damage to the city's infrastructure, leading to the failure of multiple bridges that previously connected the divided sides of the city [1].
Because there are no longer safe land routes available, the local population has been forced to adopt small boats as their sole method of transit [1]. This makeshift system is now the only way for residents to maintain essential connections across the Euphrates [1].
The situation in Deir ez-Zor reflects a broader pattern of infrastructure decay exacerbated by natural disasters. The loss of these bridges creates a physical barrier that complicates daily life for thousands of citizens who must now navigate the river's currents to reach their destinations [1].
“Boats have become the only means of transport between the two banks of the Euphrates River.”
The transition from bridge-based transit to small-boat crossings indicates a systemic failure of critical infrastructure in eastern Syria. When natural disasters like floods destroy primary transport arteries without subsequent reconstruction, the resulting isolation can stifle local economies and hinder the delivery of medical and food aid, effectively splitting a city's social and economic fabric.
