Syria

THE SITUATION

Acute poverty, COVID-19, drought, displacement, and 11 years of war are stretching the resilience and coping abilities of Syrians to the limit. Nine out of ten Syrians live below the poverty line with 67% requiring humanitarian assistance.

Nearly 70% of the country suffers from food insecurity. Nearly half a million children suffer from stunted growth and over 90,000 children from acute malnutrition.

Millions of Syrians remain registered refugees in neighbouring countries. The vast majority of Syrian refugees in the region (more than 80 per cent) live outside designated refugee camps, in urban areas among locals, usually in poor neighbourhoods where they can afford the rent, adding up to the already stretched, vulnerable infrastructures, and putting more pressure on basic resources such as health and education. People are struggling to meet the most basic needs, having left everything behind.

A new CARE gender analysis has revealed that families are increasingly taking desperate measures, including early marriage and child labour, to stay alive.

CARE condemns in the strongest terms attacks on civilians. Millions of people continue to live under siege and in hard-to-reach areas, with little access to basic needs. CARE with its partners is calling on all governments to go beyond the words of sympathy and to act concretely.

Help provide life-saving assistance to those affected by the crisis in Syria.

CARE’S RESPONSE

CARE supports vulnerable people caught in the conflict in Syria through the distribution of relief supplies such as food baskets, hygiene and baby kits, dignity kits for the elderly, and kitchen sets. During harsh winter, our partners have supported families with mattresses, blankets, floor covering, and children’s clothing. CARE’s partners also work with health clinics, providing primary care as well as maternal and reproductive health support for women to increase access to health care for Syrian communities affected by the conflict.

In addition to incredible humanitarian needs, in such a long-term conflict there is also an urgent need to rebuild livelihoods, encourage social cohesion and resilience to help people cope with a long-term crisis. Together with partners, CARE has developed programs which contribute to strengthening the resilience of communities affected by the crisis, providing families with early recovery and livelihoods support, including agricultural production, cash for work, women economic empowerment, micro-finance and psycho-social support programming. Additionally, CARE and its Syrian partner organizations provides access to clean water, improved sanitation, and hygiene.

CARE works in the northern region of Syria, largely with partners.  For the safety of our partners and staff, we do not disclose exact locations.

CARE is impartial and neutral and we do not take sides. We provide assistance based on need alone.