Priceless: Grandfather's watch
His grandfather's watch is the only thing Mohammad managed to take from his destroyed home.
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Our humanitarian aid in Syria
The Syrian war remains one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time - an entire generation of children has never known a life in peace and the devastating earthquakes in February 2023 have further exacerbated the situation. Around 7.2 million people live as internally displaced persons in their own country, a figure only surpassed by Sudan.
Added to this are problems caused by climate change: a prolonged drought and flooding are restricting access to clean water in particular and leading to significant crop and income losses. The vast majority of Syria's sub-districts are now categorised as being in severe, extreme or catastrophic conditions.
More than 16.7 million people - including women and children in particular - are dependent on humanitarian aid. We have been on the ground with our partner organisations since 2012, providing vital emergency aid.
The people in Syria are in urgent need of your support: Help now!
This is how we provide aid in the earthquake regions:
Immediately after the disaster, we sent an emergency relief team to the earthquake region for rapid coordination of aid. Together with our partner organizations, we remain at the side of those affected, as the effects of the earthquake continue to have a lasting impact on the lives of many local people.
Our help in the health sector:
- In north-west Syria, we are supporting the operation of eight hospitals, including a women's and children's hospital, as well as ten basic health centres in the Idlib and North Aleppo regions. We are also helping to procure medicines, medical supplies and diesel for generators in the facilities. 119,099 people received medical supplies, medicines, medical and orthopaedic consumables.
- To ensure that our medical aid also reaches remote areas, we have brought five mobile clinics to the affected region with our partner organisation.
- In north-west Syria, we supported the construction of a field hospital to provide medical care to more than 150,000 people affected by the earthquake.
Our help in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector:
- We provide access to clean drinking water for internally displaced people living in camps.
- We organise the cleaning of the sanitary facilities in the camps, take care of the maintenance and repair of the sanitary facilities and dispose of the waste.
- We build latrines and take care of their maintenance.
- We distribute hygiene kits to families.
- A total of 126 households benefited from our help.
Our help in the area of food security and improving living conditions:
- 982 households received food baskets.
- 10,103 households received ready-to-eat meals.
- 100 households received cash for food.
- 1,300 farmers received agricultural inputs, fuel for irrigation and training to improve growing conditions.
- 200 households run by women are involved in income-generating activities and support the farmers with the harvest.
- 100 households run by women received equipment and training in vegetable processing.
- 100 households received non-food item kits (including bedding, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, heaters and fuel).
- 1,213 households received drinking water.
Our long-term aid in Syria
Since almost the beginning of the crisis in Syria, MI has been providing life-saving emergency aid to the people in need in Syria - especially in the areas of medical care. Together with our partner organizations on the ground, MI supports hospitals, basic health centers, and mobile medical teams. MI, through partner organizations, distributes relief supplies such as blankets, mattresses, and hygiene kits and is also particularly active in providing potable water, sanitation, and hygiene within the IDP camps. MI also supports the provision of psychosocial support and protection. To improve food and nutrition security in Syria, we are strengthening the agricultural sector and empower people's livelihoods.
Stories from Syria:
Resonating tremors
One year after the earthquake, our press officer travelled to the affected region and spoke to the people there.
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Six months after the quake
People in Syria are still suffering from the consequences of the disaster. Four people shared their stories with us.
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She wouldn't let go of her grandmother's hand
At the hospital on the Turkish-Syrian border, Hala tells us about her life in the crisis area.
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Earthquake in Syria, one year later
The situation of the affected people in the earthquake regions in Syria is still dire. Read the stories of affected people.
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A beacon of hope
Eighth grader Ahmad Ali started a fundraiser, raising over €1,000 for people affected by the earthquake in Syria.
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Child labor and hunger in northwest Syria
Ahmed works at a motorcycle maintenance shop near his refugee camp to secure a living and buy medicine for his siblings.
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Earthquake survivors tell their stories
Weeks later, people in southeastern Türkiye and northwestern Syria's earthquake region still live in constant fear.
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Syria experiences the worst famine in recent history
War, drought and rising prices are the triggers of the hunger crisis in Syria.
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Operations in complete darkness, without electricity, in cold weather
Doctors in hospitals supported by Malteser International in northwestern Syria report.
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12 years of war - Syria's children of war talk about their childhood
The war in Syria began in March 2011 and has claimed many lives ever since.
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#MomentsOfHome
"A few days after we fled, I learned that our house had been destroyed during the bombing. They sent me a video of it. When I saw it, I felt so bad," says Iman Al-Mahmoud.
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Yusuf's story
For many Syrian children living with chronic diseases, the war means also coping with the challenge of their unmanaged health problems.
Read Yusuf's storyEarthquake in Syria - our emergency response
Latest news from Syria:
30.01.2024
One year after the earthquake in Syria and Türkiye:
"What I saw shocked me"
Cologne. A year after the devastating earthquake in the border region between Syria and Türkiye, more than three million people remain displaced, living in makeshift shelters or tents. In northwestern Syria, the absence of state structures to coordinate reconstruction efforts has left a void, hindering the rebuilding process. The situation is further compounded by dwindling international funding, which has reduced UN aid, exacerbating food shortages and deepening the humanitarian crisis.
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31.07.2023
Six months after the earthquake in Syria and Türkiye
"The extent of the destruction is still inconceivable. Although clean-up work is progressing in many parts of Türkiye and reconstruction has begun in some areas, millions of people are left with nothing," explains Dr. Thomas Weiss, Head of Malteser International's Middle East Department. Six months after the devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, Malteser International has expanded relief efforts. The need for humanitarian support is still high.
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14.03.2023
Syria's children of war: 12 years of violence and suffering
Cologne/Kilis. On the day Ahmed was born, his father died in a hail of bullets. That was at the beginning of the war in Syria. Today Ahmed is twelve years old and has never known a life outside of war, flight, and destruction. He was born in the town of Homs, but his parents’ house was destroyed and so his mother fled with Ahmed and his siblings to Bab al-Hawah near the Turkish-Syrian border. That was also his home when the devastating earthquake hit Türkiye and Syria on February 6.
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06.02.2023
Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria: Malteser International sends emergency relief team
Cologne/Gaziantep. After the severe earthquake in Türkiye and Syria early Monday morning, the Turkish government has asked the international community for help. The quake had a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale. According to reports so far, more than 600 people were killed in both countries. However, the numbers are rising rapidly and the damage to residential buildings and infrastructure is massive. Malteser International (MI) has sent an emergency relief team to the affected region.
Read moreProject information on our aid in Syria
Project regions: Aleppo and Idlib
Partners: Independent Doctors Association (IDA), Hand in Hand for Aid and Development (HIHFAD), The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), Bahar, Shafak
Photo credits donation examples: HIHFAD
Contact:
Anna Miehlau
Email: anna.miehlau(at)malteser-international.org
Lena Schellhammer
Email: lena.schellhammer(at)malteser-international.org
