Syria

16.7 million people inside Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance following more than a decade of crisis. Around 7.5 million children are in need and have been living under significant stress with limited access to social services and exposure to different forms of exploitation and abuse, including child labour, begging, school dropouts, and childforced marriage.

Our work in Syria

Syrians face shortages of food, water and health care. Many of the displaced people live in camps or below-standard shelters, with no protection against extreme weathers, proper hygiene and at risk of violence. We have a long presence in Syria, specifically since 2017, where we have been providing humanitarian aid assistance to the most vulnerable children and their families.

After the earthquake that hit Syria in 2023, we have distributed cash for families to meet their immediate needs, and we provided psychological support to children and caregivers, so that they could express their emotions and develop strategies to cope with the traumatic experience.

Currently, we provide health care to adults and children with disabilities, including special services like psychotherapy, assistive devices, such as wheelchairs and orthopaedic materials. We also equip healthcare professionals, helping them to recognize signs of exploitation, abuse, and trauma in their young patients. A participant entered the rehabilitation center in Aleppo while suffering from paraplegia as a result of a cerebral haemorrhage due to direct trauma during the war: “Life…Smiles back to me, I almost lost hope. I don’t know how to express my joy and gratitude to you. You gave me back my confidence, you gave me hope again.”

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Growing up with war

Millions of children from Syria grow up with war. Many have fled the violence, and become extremely vulnerable. They're at extra risk. Not only for exploitation, but also for abuse, neglect and violence. Often these children have experienced unpleasant things. They miss their normal lives. Their school. Their friends. It is important that they are well protected and helped. Traumas that go untreated cause major problems later on.

We set up safe spaces for children to engage in recreational and educational activities, while accessing comprehensive psychosocial care, which also help us identify and address more at risk cases. We also conduct community awareness Initiatives, to increase awareness on child labour, trafficking, and abuse, promoting child protection.

Children fleeing war are extremely vulnerable.

Helping as many children as possible

Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, we have been providing assistance to vulnerable children. The crisis has forced 2.1 million children out of school. An additional 1.3 million children are at risk of dropping out.

Schools are unusable, either due to damage, inaccessibility, or their use as shelters. This has led to overcrowded classrooms and compelled over a million children to attend double-shift schools, affecting their academic performance. Out-of-school children face a multitude of barriers to quality education. This includes child labor, child marriage, child exploitation, lack of identification, violence within schools, parental objections, and the cumulative psychological toll from the enduring crisis and extensive displacement.

That is why we rehabilitate schools to ensure they are accessible to everyone, also children with disabilities. We also distribute school items and financial support, to ensure children can attend school. And we organise courses to guide teachers on inclusive education, to support children with disabilities, emphasising an inclusive teaching approach disabled children.

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Recent projects

Within the Syria Joint Response we work togheter with Terre des Hommes Italy and Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) to distribute dignity kits tailored for both males and females, ensuring that all essential items are provided to meet the immediate needs of displaced families. In addition, mobile protection teams teams will deliver a variety of protection services, including:

Psychological First Aid
Semi-structured Psychosocial Support
Awareness-Raising Sessions focused on protection issues, including child protection, gender-based violence (GBV) awareness, and general safety measures.
Case Management, including to survivors of GBV, separated or unaccompanied children, and people with special needs.
Distribution of assistive devices to persons with disabilities

We focus on the most vulnerable groups, including families with children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Activities will target a total of 5,010 people: 1,002 women, 1,002 men, 1,503 boys, 1,503 girls. At the borders, the project will target refugees and returnees (many of whom are fleeing the on-going conflict in Lebanon), families in collective shelters and host communities.

In addition to this, within the Syria Joint Response we also work togheter Terre des Hommes Italy and Syrian Arab Red Crescent to implement the following Protection and WASH:

Distribution of Baby Kits to 2,000 children (1,100 girls and 900 boys). Kits include diapers, rash creams, wet wipes, changing pads, blankets, oral rehydration solutions, etc.
Distribution of Family Hygiene Kits to approximately 17,015 individuals. Kits include cloth washing detergent, toilet paper, garbage bags, body soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, razors, etc.

We focus on the most vulnerable groups, including families with children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. At the borders, we focus on families who are arriving in Syria from Lebanon, particularly those with children under 2 years of age, will receive baby kits. Families residing in collective shelters with children under 2 years will also be prioritized for baby kits.
In Communities the distribution of family hygiene kits will primarily focus on families in collective shelters and the host community, as these kits are designed to meet the needs of the entire family.

Cooperation of great importance

In emergency situations, we almost always work together with other organisations. This allows us to deploy our emergency aid as quickly as possible. Often these are local organisations that know the area well.

Part of our emergency aid activities is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Syria we work together with our sister organisations and in collaboration with four other humanitarian aid organisations within the Dutch Relief Alliance. In times of need you stand stronger together.

Our partners in Syria

Together with experienced partners we are working towards a world without child exploitation, where young people can feel safe today and better about tomorrow. Join our fight.

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs