We are here in Syria

Disaster after disaster strikes the people of Syria. After more than twelve years of violence, the country is in a serious crisis. Of the country's 23 million inhabitants, 13.6 million people have fled. Poverty is huge. In addition, the country has recently been hit by severe earthquakes. ZOA is here to alleviate suffering and work together with Syrian communities to recover and rebuild.

A country in crisis

total population of Syria

of Syria's population lives below the poverty line

6.7 million people are internally displaced

people in need of humanitarian and protection assistance

ZOA's work in syria

Relief and recovery - both desperately needed

The crisis in Syria, which has now lasted twelve years, has caused the majority of the population to flee. Cities and towns have been destroyed. To make matters worse, violent earthquakes recently hit the already fragile country. Syria is in ruins. ZOA tries to stand beside them and offer the help they desperately need in a situation where nearly everything is broken.

ZOA currently works with crisis affected communities in Quneitra, Rural Damascus, Dara’a, Latakia, Aleppo and Al Hasakeh. Our activities are targeted at internally displaced persons (IDPs), host communities and returnees. ZOA always seeks to reach the most vulnerable groups, which are often women, children, elderly, female headed households, persons with disabilities and IDPs. We focus on WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), food security & livelihoods, shelter/NFI and education.

ZOA has been active in Syria since 2015. Before establishing an office in-country, ZOA worked through local partners to reach people in need. ZOA Syria was registered in Syria in 2019 with an office located in Damascus. Since then we have been reaching out to the most vulnerable people through direct implementation as well as working with international and local partners. ZOA gives priority to three specific themes i.e. conflict sensitivity, gender and protection.

After the violent earthquakes in Syria, ZOA's emergency relief team came into action immediately. In the disaster area, our aid workers help with the most urgent items, such as shelter and warm clothing. Victims are often best helped with cash assistance. This way they can buy what they need most. As soon as the situation allows for it, ZOA also supports in building back basic services, such as water networks and schools.

The impact of our work in Syria in 2022

With a team of around 24 staff members, we serve over 35,729 people in need on a yearly basis.

Syria Joint Response

ZOA is the lead agency of the Syria Joint Response, a multi-year consortium funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a budget of over 40 million Euro. The consortium of Dutch NGOs has served over 2 million vulnerable people since 2015. During 2019-2020 ZOA led the consortium in an innovating Cash Based Programming in Syria.

Shelter and Non-food items

In Quneitra and Aleppo, we provide life-saving and life sustaining shelter support. We ensure that homes meet minimum standards and provide a higher quality of living conditions and better protection for vulnerable families. Work includes rehabilitation, repair or upgrade of existing shelters. People with disabilities are also targeted with protection specific activities. In Daraá, ZOA provides vulnerable households with core relief items and essential Non-Food Items (NFIs). Our NFI activities also include winterization assistance.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

In Rural Damascus, Quneitra and Aleppo, ZOA is working on providing people with access to clean drinking water and sanitation services, through rehabilitating crucial damaged infrastructure such as water stations and sanitation networks. This will help keep communities protected from the risk of waterborne diseases.

Shelter and Non-food items

In Aleppo, we provide life-saving and life sustaining shelter support. We ensure that homes meet minimum standards and provide a higher quality of living conditions and better protection for vulnerable families. Work includes rehabilitation, repair or upgrade of existing shelters, or cash for people to conduct their own minor repairs. People with disabilities are also targeted with protection specific activities. In Quneitra and Rural Damascus, ZOA provides vulnerable households with core relief items and essential Non-Food Items (NFIs). Our NFI activities also include winterization assistance.

Food Security & Livelihoods

Our activities in Aleppo, Latakia, Quneitra and Rural Damascus are aimed at providing the means and opportunities for vulnerable individuals to earn a sustainable living and to receive a minimum income, mainly through the provision of agricultural tools, seeds and livestock, as well as training on climate-smart agriculture.

Education

Together with our local partners, we rehabilitate schools and classrooms in Damascus and Aleppo. For students, their parents and their teachers, we provide material and mental support. We aim to increase participation and quality education in schools within stable communities.

Working together

Donors and partners

We work with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN-OCHA through Syria Humanitarian Fund, DG ECHO, ILO and ZOA Netherlands. We also receive support from a wide range of entities among our constituency, such as foundations, companies, churches and schools. We work with Syria Trust for Development, Oxfam, Dorcas, TDH Italy, Medair, SSSD, EPDC and GOPA-DERD.

Read recent news about ZOA's work in Syria