Stand with the people of Syria: Marking 10 years of crisis

Mohammed (wearing a pink shirt) was only four years old when the violence erupted in Syria and his family fled to Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan. The conflict has continued for 10 years and remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. (Photo: Ezra Millstein, 2019)
In the northern countryside of Syria, flour shortages caused bakeries to close or ration bread to people. We distributed flour to bakeries and cash assistance to families to help people buy food and keep local economies afloat. (Photo: Cassandra Nelson, 2013)
Today, more than 12.4 million people in Syria still don’t have enough to eat. Many communities struggle with the food shortages that come with prolonged violence, so our teams have connected landowners with expert farmers, like Abu Goubran, and innovative farming techniques to increase local harvests. (Photo: Ezra Millstein, 2017)
As businesses suffered from instability, Mercy Corps provided Salma (real name withheld to protect her identity) and others with training and a small grant assistance. With this help, Salma was able to grow her small bakery and provide for herself and her six children. (Photo: Dream Production/Syria Resilience Consortium, 2018)
Within Syria, over six million people have been forced to flee their homes to find safety. In most cases, our teams helping those fleeing violence are able to reach displaced families within 72 hours of their arrival, providing them with lifesaving essentials. (Photo: Qusai Shabib, 2019)
Marwa and her three-month-old daughter are among the millions of people who have fled violence and found shelter in camps within Syria. Our teams provided Marwa’s family and others with basic supplies, so they can meet their most urgent needs. (Photo: Ezra Millstein, 2017)
When temperatures drop every winter in Northwestern Syria, our teams provide tarps, blankets and fuel for people who fled conflict. And to help stop the spread of COVID-19 this past winter, we built water and sanitation systems in their encampments. (Photo: Qusai Shabib, 2021)
As millions of people looked for safety beyond Syria’s borders, we partnered with local governments and organizations to help them find a path forward with innovative tools, critical information and the resources needed to survive and thrive. (Photo: Karine Aigner, 2015)
Mercy Corps’ efforts to help families fleeing Syria start as far back as 2012. Just outside the Za’atari refugee camp in the Jordanian desert, we drilled a well so that the 45,000 people living at the camp would have local access to water. (Photo: John Holroyd, 2012)
Mercy Corps also provided travel assistance and information to refugees, like Ahmed, who crossed through Greece, Macedonia and Serbia to reunite with his brothers in Germany. Since Ahmed made his journey, we’ve partnered with other humanitarian organizations to develop an app allowing refugees to get vital information and help through their phones. (Photo: Sumaya Agha, 2016)
In the Za’atari refugee camp, more than 80,000 Syrian refugees now grapple with profound stress. Our teams provide mental health support and have created a space for families to learn, socialize, play and escape the realities of life in a refugee camp. This life-saving support is as important as food, water and shelter. (Photo: Ezra Millstein, 2019)
In Jordan, a lack of resources for children with disabilities keep many refugee children with disabilities from attending school. Our teams work in camps and communities to help kids join their classmates in school by training teachers, creating awareness, and building and repairing accessibility equipment. (Photo: Ezra Millstein, 2019)

 

Ten years of conflict in Syria has destroyed families, decimated cities and driven millions of people from their homes. Over the last decade, Mercy Corps has been helping people searching for safety as well as working with devastated communities to rebuild. As we reach this tragic milestone, we’re asking you to stand with the millions of people who continue to endure this crisis yet find ways to build toward a better future.

Take a moment to learn more about the hardships they’ve experienced and are working to overcome. Then, share the stories behind the conflict and how, with your support, our teams in Syria and neighboring countries are working to help create a more stable and peaceful tomorrow.

Find the facts on the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
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