We are here in Syria

Disaster after disaster strikes the people of Syria. After more than thirthteen years of violence, the country is in a serious crisis. Of the country's 22 million inhabitants, millions have fled. Poverty is huge. The country has been hit by severe earthquakes in February 2023. In addition, at the end of 2024 new conflict broke out in the northwest of the country. Rebel coalition Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) made their way further inland and gained power in the most important cities of Syria, forcing the old president Bashar al-Assad to flee the country. ZOA is doing everything possible to help the people in Syria during these difficult and uncertain times.

A country in crisis

total population of Syria

7,8 million people are internally displaced

people in need of humanitarian and protection assistance

Syria in ruins

What is happening in Syria

The crisis in Syria, which has now lasted thirthteen years, has caused the majority of the population to flee. Cities and towns have been destroyed. To make matters worse, violence broke out again at the end of 2024. Causing a shift in power. On top of that the effects of the earthquakes that hit in February 2023 are still making it difficult for the affected to make ends meet. To sum up, 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.

Life in Syria is tough. Many refugees are returning to their hometowns because of the conflict. These people are often them who have already been forced to flee multiple times due to violence. Many of them return to find their homes destroyed and their belongings gone. The infrastructure is heavily damaged, and basic services are minimal. A total of 16.7 million people rely on aid.

Increased Concerns

The outbreaks of violence at the end of 2024 have a big impact on Syria. In some parts of the country, residents are trying to resume their normal lives. However, according to UNHCR, there is still significant violence, particularly in the northwest of Syria. This greatly impacts civilians and also makes it difficult for ZOA to deliver aid. Crime is rampant, with theft and kidnapping being daily occurrences.

Additionally, the years of war before have left their mark on Syria's population. Unexploded remnants of war continue to claim victims almost daily. For instance, landmines often detonate when people accidentally step on them.

Warmth in the Cold Months

The situation in Syria is currently very uncertain. Before the outbreaks of violence at the end of 2024, ZOA was working hard to provide emergency aid in various parts of Syria. This includes meeting basic needs and providing psychological support. Many people suffer from trauma because nothing is behind them yet, leaving them unable to begin processing their experiences. Children, in addition to trauma, face significant educational setbacks due to the lack of schooling.

ZOA is currently focused on providing warm meals. We are also distributing packages with essential items, such as warm blankets, clothing, and shoes. This is crucial in an environment where everything is destroyed, and winters are cold. We are also supplying heaters.

The impact of our work in Syria

before the outbreak of violence at the end of 2024

The conflict makes it difficult to continue our work nowadays, but we are striving to quickly find a way to continue our projects.

For example, the project were ZOA 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 and we strive to continue working in the areas where we are needed. 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.

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