United Nations in Syrian Arab Republic

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Syria:

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17 October 2022

A new desk makes a big difference

Deir-ez-Zor city, northeast Syria, December 2021 – More than a decade of crisis has partially or completely damaged one in three schools in Syria. Close to 2.5 million children are out of school. Children’s education in Deir-ez-Zor, and across the country, has borne the brunt of the devastating conflict. With respite in violence since 2019, families in Deir-ez-Zor have started to return home to rebuild their lives. For children wishing to resume their education some hurdles persist. Attending class in an overcrowded room is one of them. At a glance, this might look like a pile of junk with little use or value. This was not the case for staff at the Department of Education in Deir-ez-Zor. They wanted to ensure that the school desk frames would not go to waste and decided to repair the desks to accommodate more students in class and save costs. UNICEF and partners were there to help. Carpentry and blacksmithing trainers supervised the work of the volunteers. Most of them had lost their jobs and livelihoods due to the conflict. The volunteers had a chance to put what they had learned into practice while leaving a positive impact on children’s lives. “In four months, I was able to learn carpentry. I wanted to do something to make a living and support my family,”
Yaser (right of the photo), 35. Father of two school-aged daughters. Making use of the metal frames of worn-out school desks, they cut, burnished, and assembled wooden boards. The finalized boards were then fixed onto the frames. “During the training, I learned how to make different types of furniture in no time. So, I wanted to take part in this project,” added Yaser. He was able to get a paid job as a daily laborer after the vocational training and he dreams of having his own workshop soon. “When my daughter came back home a little while ago, she was thrilled about having new desks in her classroom. I felt so proud! Our work has helped children feel more comfortable while at school,” explained Yaser, while cutting wooden boards at the Vocational Training Centre, to repair more school desks. The day after Yaser’s daughter found out about the project, she went back to school filled with pride, telling her friends about it. Not only has the project helped many children to continue their education, but it has also provided opportunities for people who took part in the vocational training to put their new skills into practice. Ahmad, 21, is another carpentry trainee who volunteered for the project. “I learned about different types of wood and how to cut them. Excelling at the training, made my trainer hire me to work at his workshop,” said Ahmad. He is now able to support his family and cover for his education fees. He is a second-year mechanical engineering student at the university. “I dream of opening my own workshop for carpentry, blacksmithing and aluminum carpentry,” he added. “Every child has the right to learn. This project is the fruitful outcome of community members coming together to support the children so that they can continue learning in a more conducive space. UNICEF, and partners, provided the tools and opportunity to do so,”
Mohamad Kinan Turkawi, Education Officer with UNICEF in Deir-ez-Zor Nine-year-old Ghada is one of the students. “The new desks are smooth!” said the third grader as she read an exercise during class at Adel Alhaj Hneidi school. “The previous desks we had were really old. Their surface was bumpy, and I often had sawdust on in my fingers. It hurt! Also, we couldn’t sit straight as the seats were shaky,” explained Ghada. She is happy about being able to sit in a comfortable position during a school day. “Sometimes, three or four of us would have to sit at one desk. We did not have many desks in class. I remember having to wear my bag all day or not having enough space to move or write while being seated,” said Qaysar, 9. He attends Grade 3 at Adel Alhaj Hneidi school. Nour, 9, another Grade 3 student in Ghada’s and Qaysar’s class at Adel Alhaj Hneidi school, also struggled with the lack of seating space. “These new ones are spacious and have enough room for our bags and stuff,” she said about the new desks. “Previously, we all had to fit into the same classroom with less desks. My desk had a rugged surface, it was dusty and hard to clean. Now, I feel more comfortable at school!” she added. In Deir-ez-Zor, since last year, with thanks to a generous contribution from Germany, UNICEF with partners has helped reach 40 schools across the governorate with 1,000 repaired school desks to help children continue their education in a conducive classroom environment.

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Story

05 February 2020

Giving children with a disability in Syria new hope

Damascus, Syria – In the crowded reception area of the Disability and Physical Rehabilitation Centre in Damascus, 13-year old Ali from Ar-Raqqa governorate waits for his name to be called. His father Jaseem waits patiently with him, optimistic that his son will receive the best possible treatment. Ali was injured during a bombardment of his area of Ein Issa city in north-east Syria two years ago while helping his father in their small shop. Shrapnel hit his leg and he was rushed to hospital, where doctors had no choice but to amputate his leg above the knee. Since then, he has been fitted with a series of artificial left legs to accommodate his growing body. The Disability and Physical Rehabilitation Centre in Damascus is one of the WHO-supported public health centres providing free-of-charge prosthetic services. Since 2018, WHO has provided the Disability and Physical Rehabilitation Centre in Damascus and three specialized nongovernmental organizations in the governorates of Damascus and Aleppo with prosthetic components and manufacturing materials for the production of 600 artificial limbs, thanks to the generous financial support of the people of Japan. In 2019, WHO provided more than 13,642 physical rehabilitation sessions and supported almost 170 beneficiaries with artificial limbs through its contracted nongovernmental organizations. “May this centre remain forever,” said Jassem, smiling at his son. “We live almost 450 kilometers away, and we come to the centre many times each year. We’ve had to make a lot of sacrifices to find the money for travel costs, but this is the best prosthetics centre in the country,” he added. After a few minutes, a technician takes Ali to have his leg measured. Ali gets up from his seat with the help of his artificial limb and moves to the measuring room. He waits anxiously as he watches the technicians measure the limbs of other patients. He has outgrown his artificial limb and needs a new one fitted. After being fitted with his new leg, Ali gets up on his feet and dances in a circle, laughing and spinning with joy, his eyes expressing hope and confidence for a better future. “I’m 13 years old and in the sixth grade at school; I want to become a teacher when I grow up,” says Ali with determination and immense self-confidence. “My disability doesn’t hinder my daily activities. I go to school, help my father and I’m very keen on playing football; I can go for long walks with the help of my artificial limb,” he adds proudly. “Ali is just one of dozens of children that the Disability and Physical Rehabilitation Centre helps every day. The centre provides free-of-charge rehabilitation services for all age groups, including the manufacturing of artificial limbs and physiotherapy” says Dr Rafif Dhieh, Head of the Disability and Physical Rehabilitation Center at the Ministry of Health. “We thank WHO for its continuous support that allows us to help people who come to our centre from all over the country,” he adds. “WHO is keen to support the treatment of war injuries, especially for those who have lost their limbs, with a view to reviving their hope of leading a normal and productive life,” says Dr Nima Abid, WHO Representative a.i. in the Syrian Arab Republic, before concluding: “In fact, WHO spares no effort to provide all possible support as part of its humanitarian work to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable people and to trigger a ray of hope for a better future”.

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Story

15 July 2021

“My Hero is You” mental health campaign enhances resilience among parents and children in Syria

One in 10 people in Syria live with a mild to moderate mental health condition. Prolonged exposure to conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to strain the mental well-being of families. In response, WHO Syria and local nongovernmental organizations in Rural Damascus recently launched the “My Hero Is You” campaign, which aims to reduce anxiety and fear associated with COVID-19 among children, and enhance the ability of parents to effectively talk to children about their well-being. The pilot campaign reached 5000 children and included messages about how to cope with stress delivered through a colouring book. The book was adapted to the Syria context and is based on a children’s story, entitled “My Hero is You”, developed by WHO and other members of an United Nations inter-agency committee on mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings. The campaign also included the provision of psychosocial support sessions and focus group discussions, attended by 2000 parents, caregivers and health educators who discussed their concerns, coping mechanisms and support strategies for children experiencing stress in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. “In recent years, there has been increasing acknowledgement of the role of mental health in people’s overall well-being and, especially, children’s development. In Syria, the conflict was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse economic impact, so the need to address mental health has become even more acute. Thus, our increased focus on mental health aims at listening to communities – to their fears, concerns and experiences of coping with COVID-19 - and empowering them with tools and skills to stay mentally resilient and adapt to a new normal,” said Dr Akjemal Magtymova, WHO Representative in Syria. The campaign, funded by the WHO Regional Solidarity Initiative, was made possible thanks to partnerships with Al-Tal and Al-Qutayfah nongovernmental organizations, members of which received training by WHO prior to the campaign launch. The training was based on the WHO global package and adapted to the Syrian context to tailor it to the current needs of community workers who provide basic psychosocial support services to parents and children. “I am proud to be part of the initiative through which I could teach parents and children how to overcome anxieties and stay positive despite the circumstances surrounding them. It was a joy to observe children reading and colouring the story and imagining themselves travelling around Syria with characters, like Ario, to share with other children what they have learned from the book and what to do to prevent transmission of COVID-19,” said Ahmed Sousan, 30, a volunteer from Rural Damacus who received WHO training. “Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and work life balance were among the recommendations I received during the psychosocial support sessions, in addition to tips on how to talk to children about COVID-19 related fears. It was important for me to share how the pandemic affected the mental well-being of my family. I felt others shared the same concerns and together we can overcome the challenges of the current times,” said one of the parents at the Al-Tal centre. Following the success of the pilot programme in Rural Damascus, WHO plans to replicate the initiative in Homs, Aleppo and other governorates this year to reach thousands of parents and children in need of mental health support; and in collaboration with the Regional Office for Eastern Mediterranean will also share the initiative’s best practices for other countries in the Region to replicate. The original story was produced by WHO Syria and can be found here.

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Publication

29 July 2021

2021 Humanitarian Needs Overview: Syrian Arab Republic

Context and Humanitarian Impact Syria remains one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies characterized by ongoing hostilities which have killed hundreds of thousands of people, triggered one of the worst displacement crises of our time, and led to the widespread destruction of civilian and agricultural infrastructure, including homes, schools, health facilities, water supply and irrigation systems. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance - a 21 per cent increase compared to 2020 - with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. The decade-long crisis has inflicted immense suffering on the civilian population who have experienced massive and systematic violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including more than 1,350 attacks on education and medical facilities and related personnel, bombardment which has caused over 12 million people to flee their homes, and arbitrary detention, abduction, torture as well as other serious abuses. Almost 12,000 children have been killed or injured since 2011, and 47 per cent of young people have had a member of their immediate family or close friend die. With around half of Syria’s children having known nothing but a lifetime of crisis - 2.45 million of whom were estimated to be out of school in 2020 alone - an entire generation is at risk of being lost. Long-standing and deep-rooted trauma, much of which remains unaddressed, means a mental health crisis looms large. While large-scale hostilities have reduced compared to the peak of the crisis, with frontlines not having shifted in a year, frequent mutual shelling and rocket fire continues to be observed along contact lines, often causing civilian casualties. The economy has experienced irreparable harm since the crisis began, with the gross domestic product having declined by 60 per cent and the government increasingly unable to raise sufficient revenue to subsidize essential commodities such as fuel and bread on which the most vulnerable families rely. The Syrian pound is in virtual freefall having lost 78 per cent of its value since October 2019, while price increases for staple goods are at an all-time high. More than 90 per cent of the population is now estimated to live below the poverty line. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this economic downturn by further reducing already sparse income-generating opportunities in a context where 50 per cent of the work age population is now estimated unemployed, and curtailing women and children’s access to critical services such as reproductive health and malnutrition screening. Remittances, on which millions of Syrians and particularly IDPs rely are understood to have halved, from US$1.6 billion in 2019 to US$800 million in 2020, due to global and regional economic contraction. COVID-19 has also impacted an already debilitated health system in which half of health facilities are partially or non-functional. Humanitarian Conditions and Needs Continued civilian casualties and forced displacement due to ongoing hostilities, in addition to reduced access to already degraded basic services, limited and inadequate housing and shelter options, and a wide array of specific protection risks and concerns continue to cause and perpetuate humanitarian needs among the population. While hostility-induced displacement in early 2020 generated additional needs amongst the population in Syria for internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and host communities, particularly in North-west Syria (NWS), the ripple effects of the economic downturn - including the loss of income and livelihoods, sharply reduced purchasing power and resulting financial unaffordability of food and other basic goods - have exacerbated living conditions for people who were already in humanitarian need, and have tipped previously less affected segments of the population into humanitarian need, including food insecurity, across the country. The crisis continues to have a gendered impact, with women and adolescent girls paying a high price for harmful and discriminatory gender norms, including gender-based violence, while men and boys face elevated risks linked to arbitrary detention, forced conscription and explosive ordnance, among others. The economic deterioration has financially squeezed families further. Eighty-two per cent of assessed households in Syria report a significant deterioration in their ability to meet basic needs since August 2019, due mainly to price increases and loss of income. With the WASH, health and education infrastructure considered poorly or non-functional in 48 per cent of all sub-districts, access to basic services is severely hampered and increasingly unaffordable. This is particularly the case for over 1.9 million IDPs sheltering in informal settlements, planned camps and collective shelters, which offer inadequate protection against the elements and increase the risk of epidemic-prone diseases among this population. At the same time millions of people across Syria continue to live in damaged housing, particularly along former frontlines, with those paying rent now struggling more than before to do so. Facing deteriorated living standards, families are increasingly adopting harmful coping mechanisms. Seventy-one per cent of households and 75 per cent of female-headed households have taken on more debt since August 2019. Twenty-eight per cent of families now adopt ‘crisis’ or ‘emergency’ food related coping strategies, including withdrawing children from school to have them work instead, selling property, migrating due to lack of food and early child marriage. Twenty-two per cent of assessed communities report child labour as frequently occurring, while child marriage of young and adolescent girls (12-17 years) is reported by 18 per cent of assessed communities as a very common issue. Worsening living standards and an increase in harmful coping strategies have led additional segments of the population to develop life-threatening physical and mental health needs. These include a 57 per cent increase in the number of food insecure people to 12.4 million (up from 7.9 million in early 2020). Of these, 1.27 million people are considered severely food insecure – twice as many as in early 2020. In line with this trend, malnutrition rates continue to peak, with more than 500,000 children under the age of five chronically malnourished and 90,000 acutely malnourished. Mental trauma is widespread and under-assessed but certain to have long-term implications across all population groups. Twenty- seven per cent of households report signs of psychological distress in boys and girls, almost double the 2020 figure (14 per cent). Critical protection needs persist and have been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including gender-based violence (GBV), with women and girls across the country reporting that it has become a feature of everyday life. One in two people in Syria is estimated to be at risk of explosive ordnance; needs for humanitarian mine action interventions, particularly survey and clearance activities, are therefore significant but currently not met at scale. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the country with nearly 47,000 cases confirmed in Syria, including at least 1,972 deaths as of mid-March 2021, further straining the health system and reducing people's access to both emergency and non-emergency care. In 2021, the increased scope and inter-linked nature of humanitarians needs among the population in Syria requires a comprehensive response across all sectors to save lives, protect people and prevent further deprivation. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.

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16 October 2022

From hardship to hope: Kotada’s fresh perspective

2022, Dar’a, south Syria – “The children I teach, tell me their dreams consist of voices,” says Saad. He is a renowned local sculptor, and he teaches children with visual impairments to recognize spaces and shapes. “They don’t have images in their minds to refer back to and I hope to give them some new things to dream of, “he adds. Saad's clay courses are held at the UNICEF -supported centre in Dar’a, south Syria and they are part of a UN Joint Programme. The Programme is a joint effort by six UN agencies, and it aims to strengthen urban and rural resilience by supporting people to cope with the impacts of protracted crisis in Syria and revive their pursuit of a better future. Seven-year-old Kotada is one of the children who has benefitted from Saad’s arts classes, but before finding his way to the centre and the classes, he went through a difficult journey. In 2011, the violence forced Kotada’s family to flee their home village in rural Dar’a. They were displaced multiple times and survived challenging circumstances. In 2017, when temporarily in Da’el town, north of Dar’a city, the family rented a place for shelter. Ayman, Kotada’s father, with Amin and Mohammad, his eldest sons, sold old clothes for a living. One day, a shell fell while Kotada was playing outside and injured him severely – and changed his life forever. “I heard a terrible noise, but the dust prevented me from seeing what had happened,” said his mother, who rushed out of the house to check on Kotada. His sister Sidra, who is his best friend, was injured as well. They were taken to a hospital to be treated after the incident. Doctors told their mother that Kotada had lost his right eye and the left one required intensive treatment. Sidra had shrapnel all over her body and underwent several surgeries to remove them. Despite the eye surgeries, Kotada lost his vision partially. He was only three at the time. In late 2018, with respite in violence, his family returned home to Ataman and stayed in their conflict-damaged house. “We’re still fixing it today, but at least we’re at home,” said his mother Ghossoun. Hoping to help Kotada regain some sense of normalcy and make friends, Ghoussoun approached an elementary school in the village. The school’s director told her about an education programme, supported by UNICEF through the UN Joint Programme, in Dar’a city. It welcomed children with visual impairments. “In September 2021, my boy started school. His sister Sidra and his cousins would accompany him there,” added Ghoussoun. “I visit him during recess and look after him. I’ll always be his eyes instead of the ones he lost,” said Sidra. At the same time, Kotada began frequenting the UNICEF -supported centre, part of the Joint UN Programme. There, he learned Braille. It is a language used by blind and partially sighted people. It consists of combinations of raised dots; all letters and numbers are represented by a combination so that books and other materials can be read through touch. Kotada also took part in life skills sessions together with other children with visual impairments. The programmes are designed to help children with disabilities integrate and feel included in regular schools and empower them with skills for the future. “He has become more confident and sociable,” said Ghoussoun about her son. He asks her to take him to the centre regularly. The clay course was one of the courses Kotada and his peers participated in at the centre. “I intended to introduce the children to clay shaping while having fun. The results turned out surprisingly significant! Children began grasping the meaning of different shapes for the first time,” said Saad, the teacher. Out his love for clay sculpting, Kotada used his spare time at home to play with homemade playdough and draw shapes he learned during the course. “We discovered Kotada has artistic talents. Who knows, he might become a famous artist in the future!” said his sister Sidra. In Dar’a, UNICEF, under the UN Joint Programme, has reached more than 1,000 children with disabilities with remedial classes since 2021. Over 200 out of school children with disabilities have benefitted from education services tailored to their learning needs. Some 22,000 young people have been reached with youth empowerment activities. The activities are part of the UN Joint Programme, through UNICEF, and they have been implemented with support from the European Union and Norway. The UN Joint Programme on Urban and Rural Resilience is a unique pooled and multi-donor financing mechanism, offering an enabling platform to enhance joint analysis, coherent planning and joined-up implementation towards efficiency and greater impact.

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14 July 2022

Ruqaya helps reunite children in Hasakeh with their families

February 2022, Hasakeh, northeast Syria – “No words can describe my happiness when I see a child run into their parents’ arms,” Ruqaya says smiling. Together with her team, she has successfully reunified more than 75 children with their caregivers. “We put in place a plan to trace the family members of each child. Things take time sometimes, but the team and I stay motivated as long as there is progress. It means that the distance between the child and his or her caregivers is getting shorter,” she adds. Ruqaya supervises a team of 38 case managers. They work with a UNICEF -supported partner in Hasakeh, northeast Syria, to connect children with essential services and to ultimately reunite them with their families and caregivers. It includes work in camps where internally displaced persons have taken shelter from violence. “Working with separated and unaccompanied children is not easy,” Ruqaya says. The case management process matches the needs of each child with the available services. It includes connecting children with various social and legal services. The process is often lengthy, and it can last for months. During the long years of conflict in Syria, Ruqaya and her colleagues have worked in extremely challenging situations. At times the job has taken a toll on Ruqaya. “During my first year on the job, I’d think about work even at home and I’d reflect on interactions with separated children and desperate families,” she explains. Yet, she is determined to continue the work. “Children have the right to live in a safe environment, to grow up with their families and among their siblings,” reiterates Ruqaya. She believes case management is life changing support rather than merely a service provided. Ruqaya and her colleagues have supported countless numbers of Syrian children who have lost track of their parents due to the conflict. They are the hidden everyday heroes. “Children have the right to live in a safe environment, to grow up with their families and among their siblings,” Ruqaya, a supervisor of case managers with a UNICEF -supported partner In 2021, UNICEF reached over 450 protection workers and community volunteers in Hasakeh, northeast Syria, with training on various child protection subjects, including on child protection foundations, case management, psychosocial support, explosive ordnance risk education, gender-based violence, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. UNICEF -trained case managers supported 5,000 children and adult survivors of gender-based violence and provided support through case management. Also, over 38,000 children were provided with recreational activities as well as individual and group counselling and nearly 5,000 caregivers with guidance on parental care. More than 350,000 children and caregivers benefitted from awareness raising on the prevention from family separation and risks of unexploded ordnance as well as protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. The activities were funded by the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the KFW Development Bank.

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28 June 2022

The idea challenge

“It all starts with an idea. We had this dream for years, we finally made it a reality” Maysa’a one of the founders of the Social Solidarity Kitchen in Swaida. In 2021, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the Idea Challenge project, the first social enterprise programme in Syria with the aim of supporting the development of new and/or existing social enterprises that contribute to women’s economic empowerment. What is a social enterprise? A social enterprise or social business is defined as a business with specific social objectives. By selling goods and services, social enterprises create employment and reinvest their profits back into their business or the local community. In this way, social enterprises contribute to tackling social problems, improving people’s life chances, all while providing training and employment opportunities. Why social enterprise? Over a decade of war and crisis in Syria have pushed millions of people into unemployment and poverty. More than 90 percent of the Syrian population is estimated to be living below the poverty line, and close to two-thirds live in extreme poverty with women being disproportionately affected. At the same time, women’s participation in the labour force remains relatively weak at 22 percent, compared with 78 percent for men. With less access to land and asset ownership women face significant barriers in accessing financing opportunities. Among micro, small and medium sized enterprises, women own 35 percent of businesses, of which 73 percent operate in the informal sector. That is why it is important to invest in social enterprises that are led by women, staffed by women, and created for women who can be catalysts for change. How we did it? The announcement and call for applications for the Idea Challenge Project was made on UNDP Syria Facebook page reaching over 200 thousand people. 359 teams applied for the competition, from all over Syria. Using rigorous criteria to choose the ideas most likely to succeed, 50 teams were selected to participate in a four-day bootcamp in business model generation and business plan development. “It was very inspiring to see all the diverse and innovative ideas we have received from women from all walks of life” said Tammam Yahia, private sector and MSMEs support and development programme specialist. “We received many innovative ideas that challenge traditional gender norms, offering solutions to address some of the barriers facing women’s economic empowerment and marginalized communities” he added. At the end of the boot camp, 26 winning teams received financial support and mentorship from the Syrian Business Council (SBC). How they did it?...Meet some of the champions by read the full story

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26 June 2022

Wheat production contributes to a better living for Nadia’s family

For which they have to thank many thousands of small-scale farmers for their efforts some of whom have been being supported by FAO. Today, in June 2022, the Muhardeh countryside in Hama governorate is a beautiful sight, the wheat fields a golden carpet. Though they were affected by a late cold spell, the farmers in the area were preparing for a good harvest season after they received quality wheat seed provided by FAO and were able to access water for irrigation. The Organization, with the support of Germany through anticipatory action in FAO (SFERA), has contributed to the food and nutrition security of small-scale wheat producers by providing more than 513 tonnes of wheat seed to 2 565 vulnerable farmers in the governorates of Hama, Deir Ez-Zor, and Ar-Raqqa. Each farmer received 200 KG wheat seed, enough to plant one hectare of land. This year it has been a very different story in other parts of Syria, where farmers in rain-fed areas have again lost most of their crops, for the second year running, and upwards of 80,000 households are facing real hardship and uncertainty for the coming years. Hama governorate is one of those which contributes to the country’s wheat production. It also witnessed harsh events during the conflict over the past decade which forced thousands of farmers to flee their lands for safety. Returning back to their lands was not easy for farmers – they couldn’t access quality inputs, including seed and fertilizers, due to shortages in the local market. Also for many, their homes were destroyed; and they had to travel long distances by motorbike just to access their fields. Nadia Darwish, 34-year-old mother of three children, is one of the farmers who was forced to leave her land seeking a safe place away from armed conflict. After losing her husband during the war, she became the only breadwinner for her children and had to work on the farms of others for a daily wage. When she returned home in 2021, she realized that her homecoming was not going to be easy: “When I came back to my land, I had nothing to restart my production activities, I didn’t have money to buy enough seeds, nor did I have any means of irrigation or any fertilizers,” said Nadia. The special needs of displaced families like Nadia’s were prioritized. Moreover, the Organization has also supported farmers with guidance on good agriculture practices, efficient irrigation and water resources management, climate-smart agriculture and other topics that contributed to the improvement of the farmers’ crop production in terms of quality and quantity. Through WhatsApp, FAO’s trainers made sure to follow up with the farmers’ production practices, besides raising their awareness about the importance of quality seeds, seed rate, plant-to-plant and row-to-row distance, method of sowing, water management at critical stages, harvest residue management, timely identification of pests, and preventive use of crop protection products. “FAO provided me with the seed at the right time, they held our hands all the way from the beginning till harvest day.” Said Nadia. The crops produced will be enough for her family’s own consumption, for this year and will provide seed for next year’s use. Nadia is very happy as she can now again meet the basic needs of her three children.

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24 May 2022

WHO issues situation report calling for urgent action to address malnutrition in northeast Syria

Seven hundred thousand more children face hunger in Syria due to the country’s continuously deteriorating economy, especially in northeast Syria. In the last 6 months, the total number of food-insecure children across the country has risen to more than 4.6 million. After more than 10 years of conflict and displacement, an unprecedented number of children in Syria are now battling soaring rates of malnutrition. The World Health Organization and the Nutrition Sector continue to expand detection, as well as preventive and specialized inpatient nutrition services for children with acute malnutrition and ensure the availability of critical supplies. Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. The term malnutrition covers two broad groups of conditions. One is ‘undernutrition’, which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals). Malnutrition affects people in every country. Worldwide, some 159 million children are stunted and 50 million are wasted. Many families cannot afford or do not have access to nutritious foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, meat, and milk. Over the past 11 years, northeast Syria has suffered enormously due to the ongoing crisis. The deterioration of health services, the economic crisis, and the decrease in purchasing power, coupled with the difficulty of accessing safe drinking-water have all led to an increase in malnutrition rates. As evidence shows, in 2022–2023 about 5.5 million people, including mothers and children aged 0–59 months in Syria will need direct nutrition assistance; half of them live in northeast Syria. Subsequent surveys have shown that the incidence of acute and chronic malnutrition is twice as much in northeast Syria as compared to the rest of the country. WHO continues to confront the deteriorating nutritional situation in northeast Syria by providing a package of different nutritional service programmes. The main aim is to detect cases of malnutrition and ensure they get the appropriate management needed. WHO supports the management of malnutrition associated with complications in stabilization centres, in addition to fulfilling the need to prevent malnutrition through multiple programmes, such as infant and young child feeding counselling, as well as the Baby-Friendly Hospitals Initiative. Addressing malnutrition is one of the key priorities for WHO in northeast Syria. The latest survey that was conducted in 2019 indicates that the rates of acute and chronic malnutrition cases in northeast Syria exceeded those recorded in other regions across the country. WHO expanded nutrition services in northeast Syria in 2021 to reach a large number of health facilities operating in the 3 governorates. Despite the challenges and the shortage of health care providers, WHO has covered large parts of northeast Syria, including hard-to-reach areas. However, more needs to be done to prevent or treat acute and chronic malnutrition in Syria. Related Materials Malnutrition in northeast Syria: the case for urgent action Related Video

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Press Release

24 November 2022

Millions in Syria face freezing temperatures without critical assistance [EN/AR]

The United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim for Syria, ElMostafa Benlamlih, and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Muhannad Hadi, have warned of catastrophic risks to vulnerable Syrians as perilous winter conditions set in across the country, bringing rain, snow and freezing temperatures. With just a few weeks left in the year, the 2022 Syria Humanitarian Response Plan remains underfunded, with only 42 per cent of the requested funds received. Additional funding is urgently required to deliver life-saving winter assistance for 6 million people in Syria, including vulnerable groups such as internally displaced persons (IDPs), the elderly, people with preexisting medical conditions or special needs, families with children with severe disabilities and female-headed households. According to the Shelter and Non-Food Items Sector, 6 million people across the country are in need of winter assistance, of whom 2.5 million people are in the north-west. Currently, the majority of Syria’s population cannot afford essential items due to high inflation and a collapsing economy. Millions of families across Syria live in perilous conditions, including those who are living in dire conditions in camps or sites of “last resort” with limited to no access to heating, health services or clean water supply. Country-wide electricity rationing, and chronic fuel shortages have left poverty-stricken families without any alternatives this winter. “If no further funding is received, millions of people will be unprotected against severe winter conditions. We are most concerned about families who do not have the resources to buy warm clothes or heating supplies, including those living in IDP camps, deprived areas or areas of high elevation.
This is the 12th year of the crisis and the 12th winter of hardship for people in Syria,” said Mr Benlamlih. “Additional funding would secure warm clothing and boots for children and adults, fleece blankets, heaters and fuel. These basic items are desperately needed by the millions of vulnerable people in Syria to protect the health and wellbeing of families during dangerous and unpredictable weather conditions,” said Mr Hadi. The funding shortfall has jeopardized critical, life-saving interventions in shelter/non-food items, education, health, nutrition, WASH and protection and long-term life-sustaining interventions, such as wheat cultivation for the 2022/2023 agricultural season. For further information:
Olga Cherevko, Spokesperson, OCHA Syria, Damascus, cherevko@un.org
Yannick Martin, Humanitarian Affairs Officer, Amman, martiny@un.org
Madevi Sun Suon, Public Information Officer, Gaziantep, madevi.sun-suon@un.org

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Press Release

22 November 2022

Japan and UNOPS Support the Healthcare System in Syria

The intervention has led to increasing the operational capacities of the national health sector in the provision of life-saving and life sustaining services to populations affected by the ongoing conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the project enhanced the capacity of the health facilities to respond to the ongoing needs through the supply of critically needed medical equipment and training of healthcare providers and relevant staff on the use of equipment and its maintenance. Mr. Hirofumi Miyake, Special Coordinator for Syria and Charge d‘Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Syria said: “Japan remains committed to providing humanitarian assistance to support populations in Syria affected by the crisis and the COVID-19. We sincerely hope that our support will help alleviate suffering for as many Syrians as possible, and help them to weather the multiple and deepening challenges they now face.” “This project will enable the targeted health facilities to deal with the daily increased demand for services, benefiting around 9.8 million people seeking medical treatment annually in Damascus, Rural Damascus, Aleppo, and Sweida governorates. The medical equipment will be crucial in saving people’s lives.”, said Muhammad Usman Akram, Director of UNOPS Multi-Country Office in Amman. About UNOPS: UNOPS helps the UN and its partners provide peace and security, humanitarian and development solutions. The organization’s mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. UNOPS services cover infrastructure, project management, procurement, financial management and human resources. Partners call on UNOPS to supplement their own capacities, improve speed, reduce risks, boost cost-effectiveness and increase quality. UNOPS Operational Hub in Amman covers projects in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen and implements its work in partnership with bilateral donors, national governments and other UN agencies. For Press Inquiries, please contact: Anwar Abu Sakieneh, Communications Specialist (UNOPS) Mobile number: +962 7 9902 6315 AnwarAB@unops.org or +962 6 5902122

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Press Release

07 November 2022

Italy partners with the UN in Syria to scale up multi-sectoral resilience assistance to vulnerable, conflict-affected communities

On his part, Mr. Imran Riza, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, said “it is imperative to scale up early recovery and resilience interventions to effectively respond to rising needs in the country”. He welcomes Italy’s participation in the Joint Programme, which is currently the only pooled fund mechanism with multi-year funding dedicated to early recovery and resilience assistance in Syria. Funded until now by the European Union (EU) and Norway and implemented jointly by six UN agencies participating in the Joint Programme – FAO, UNDP, UNFPA, UN Habitat, UNICEF and WFP - the programme has proven to be a high-impact, effective modality to strengthen multi-sectoral responses to the complex resilience challenges facing vulnerable Syrian communities. Mr. Riza noted that Italy’s participation in this flagship resilience programme strengthens the confidence of UN partners to deliver integrated resilience solutions while signaling to crisis-affected communities the international community’s commitment to help them rebuild their lives. The Joint Programme has been piloted in Dara’a and Deir Ezzor. With Italy’s generous contribution and with the continued support of the EU and Norway, it will be possible to further consolidate resilience gains in these crisis-affected locations and to expand area-based, multisectoral programming to other areas of high need. For more information, please contact: Bana Seifo, Joint Programme Communication and Advocacy Officer, Resident Coordinator’s Office, UN Syria, bana.seifo@one.un.org

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Press Release

04 September 2022

The Syria Humanitarian Fund (SHF) allocates $30 million to address critical needs in Syria

Today, 14.6 million Syrians require humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs, a 1.2 million increase from 2021. Thanks to the generous and timely contributions of 12 donors in 2022, totaling $37.3 million, this SHF allocation will reach some of the most vulnerable people in Syria, including children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women, with urgent humanitarian assistance. The SHF allocation aims to support life-saving interventions in worst-affected areas, as well as atrisk individuals, including women and girls. It will also strengthen coordination through inclusive programming and a localization strategy to boost the implementation of the 2022-2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), focusing on two priority areas. Priority 1: Strengthening the nutrition response through the provision of multi-sector nutrition assistance in areas with the highest severity of needs and poor response reach. The response will focus on addressing key determinants of malnutrition ($8.1 million). Priority 2: Strengthening the delivery of priority humanitarian assistance planned under the 2022-2023 HRP in areas with extreme and catastrophic needs (severity scale 4 and 5) and low coverage of response. The response will focus on strengthening resilience ($22.7 million). “We have seen food insecurity increase dramatically with a consequent rise in malnutrition rates, especially amongst the most vulnerable groups. This allocation aims to address the needs of the worst-affected communities and is only possible due to the generosity of SHF donors.,” said Mr Riza. The SHF is a country-based pooled fund led by the Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria and managed by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Since its inception in 2014, the SHF has received over $372 million from donors to support the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people in Syria. The SHF remains one of the primary sources of direct funding for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Syria. For this allocation, 76 per of funding is channeled to NGOs, of which 20 per cent is allocated to national NGOs.

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