March 10, 2025
News
For fourteen years, Syria has been a place where people struggle to survive amidst war-ravaged cities, destroyed infrastructure, and uncertainty. The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime brought hope for a better future for many Syrians, but also a number of new challenges. Caritas Czech Republic has been operating in Syria since 2013, helping local people survive and start over – from securing basic needs to supporting livelihoods.
Aid in Syria is still needed
After fourteen years of war, Syria’s infrastructure is in ruins. A quarter of hospitals and a third of healthcare facilities are not operational, and power outages are a daily reality. The war has also devastated the economy – the local currency has nearly lost its value, and the prices of food and basic goods have skyrocketed. Today, 90% of Syrians live below the poverty line, and more than 15 million people have been facing food insecurity for a prolonged period. It is estimated that up to 16.7 million people in Syria will need humanitarian assistance this year, representing more than 70 percent of the country’s population. The recent escalation in the coastal region of the country has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis and caused another wave of displacement.
On top of this, the consequences of the devastating earthquake in February 2023, which affected nearly 9 million people in Syria, and prolonged drought, which leaves many communities without drinking water or water for irrigation, continue to worsen the situation. The earthquake hit areas in the northwest of the country, home to people displaced by the war. These people have often been forced to relocate multiple times, seeking safety in new places again and again. It is in northwestern Syria that Caritas Czech Republic helps local people secure basic needs and become self-sufficient.
Rapid food aid after the fall of Assad’s regime
In December of last year, heavy fighting around Aleppo and Idlib affected basic infrastructure – including bakeries, which had been the only reliable source of bread for thousands of families. Due to destroyed buildings, power outages, fuel shortages, and disrupted supplies, most bakeries had to shut down. This further deepened an already critical food crisis.
“People were fighting for basic survival. In villages around Idlib and Aleppo, located on the front line, everything is destroyed. The locals need bread and food they can eat immediately,” described the situation Mohammad Hafed from Caritas Czech Republic.
Caritas Czech Republic therefore, in cooperation with the organisation SARD, ensured the rapid distribution of bread for more than 10,000 families, including the most vulnerable – elderly people and people with disabilities. For those unable to collect the bread themselves, it was delivered directly to their homes.
Caritas Czech Republic in Syria: 12 years of help where it is needed most
Caritas Czech Republic began its assistance in Syria in 2013. Initially, the focus was on emergency humanitarian aid – providing food, water, hygiene supplies, and warm clothing. We also supported healthcare facilities, for example, by operating mobile clinics or assisting a health centre in Aleppo. For people who lost their homes, we provided safe shelter. In the northern Syrian province of Idlib, we managed to repair dozens of war-damaged houses so that displaced families could return to them.
Over time, we also began to focus on livelihood recovery. In a country with massive unemployment and a lack of opportunities, we supported young Syrians in starting their own businesses, enabling them to provide for themselves and their families. For instance, in Idlib, 420 young Syrians participated in business training, and the best of them received start-up grants to launch small enterprises.
“My dream is to open a small shoemaking workshop. That way, I can secure my income and also give work to my neighbours, who, like me, cannot find employment,” says Fares, one of the business training participants.
Providing clean water
The war and neglected maintenance have destroyed many water sources. Water shortages complicate life for families and farmers trying to grow even basic crops for food. Therefore, in 2024, in cooperation with the organisation Takaful Al Sham (TAS) and with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, we repaired the Shuwaiha water station near the town of Al-Bab. It now supplies clean water to thousands of people in the area.
“We had to travel far and pay high prices for water. Now we have it at our doorstep – we can cook, drink, and water the garden. It’s a huge relief,” says Ali, a father of three living in a camp near Al-Bab.
In 2024, Caritas Czech Republic improved access to drinking water for more than 6,500 people and ensured better sanitation conditions for them.
Helping heal the soul
The war in Syria left not only visible scars on buildings but also invisible ones. Many children and adults suffer from trauma, anxiety, or depression. Many Syrians bear deep psychological wounds, and women and girls, in particular, face increased risks of domestic and sexual violence in the fractured society.
Caritas Czech Republic therefore organises support groups, therapy sessions, and awareness programmes to help people cope with their experiences and rediscover hope. Twelve-year-old Maryam, from rural Syria, lost not only her home to the war but also her confidence. She became quiet, withdrawn, and afraid to speak to strangers. Thanks to psychological sessions organised by Caritas Czech Republic and TAS, she gradually began to smile again.
“I want to keep learning, no matter what happens,” says Maryam determinedly, who has persevered at school despite the hardships and dreams of becoming a teacher to pass on knowledge to other children and bring hope to her community.
Together with the local community
In addition to direct aid, Caritas Czech Republic strengthens the capacity of local organisations to respond to crises. In cooperation with partners, we have trained local NGOs so that Syrians themselves can contribute to the recovery of their country. This proved crucial after the 2023 earthquake – thanks to a network of volunteers trained and supported by us, aid reached affected families very quickly. Within days, Caritas Czech Republic and its partners distributed food packages, hygiene kits, tents, and set up emergency latrines to prevent the spread of diseases.
The aid also included psychological support to help people cope with trauma caused by the disaster.
Thank you for helping with us
After almost fourteen years of war, Syria remains one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time. Caritas Czech Republic continues to provide essential assistance, made possible thanks to the generosity of donors. We appreciate your support.
