Syria

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Some annual results

up to 10.000people in Aleppo have a hot meal every day in kitchens we support
2,042IDPs received life-saving humanitarian assistance in Latakia
500young Syrians in Damascus increased their business skills and job security

Global Peace Index

155/ 163

GPI Rank

Political Instability

Safety & Security

Ongoing Conflict

Source: Global Peace Index (2016)

Country Office

Syria

Syria operations are managed by the Cordaid Iraq office:

Empire Royal City
Building No B8, House1
Gulan street, Bakhtyari Rd.
Erbil, Iraq

Country director Middle East

Habib Rajeh

[email protected]

Cordaid in Syria

In Syria, Cordaid focuses on first and second line humanitarian responses to people affected by the conflict in Syria. We distribute NFIs, hygiene kits and cover costs of urgent medical care for extremely vulnerable victims of war. Also, we support young Syrians in finding a job.

Where does Cordaid work?

In Syria, our efforts focus on three governorates. In Damascus, Cordaid provides vocational training and business start up kits to young Syrians, engaging them to help revive the local economy.

In Latakia we work with other Caritas members to distribute non-food items, and cover house rental and urgent medical needs of vulnerable IDPs.

In Aleppo we support the Jesuit Refugee Service in providing daily hot meals to up to 10.000 vulnerable people.

18,4 Million

Population

Rural population

Urban population

0.0% annual

GDP growth

8.9 per 1,000

Mortality rate, neonatal

Source: worldbank.org

Current situation

As the Syrian crisis drags on, civilians continue to bear the brunt of a conflict marked by suffering and destruction. 13,5 million people require humanitarian assistance, including 4,9 million trapped in besieged and hard-to-reach areas. Over half of the population has been displaced since the outbreak of the conflict in 2011, with the majority of people forced to flee several times (in some cases as many as 25 times) due to shifting front lines and difficulties in accessing cash, food and lack of shelters, water and sanitation facilities.

Children and youth comprise more than half of the displaced, and half of those in need of humanitarian assistance. At the start of military operations to gain control of Ar-Raqqa city, the situation has further deteriorated. By then, an estimated 50,00-100,000 people were still trapped inside the city.

Parties to the conflict act with impunity, committing violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws, frequently denying the access of humanitarian assistance in certain areas, or blocking urgent medical evacuations. Civilians living in locations, urgently in need of humanitarian assistance are denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement and access to adequate food, water and health care.

Cordaid in Syria

Cordaid Syria operations are managed by our Iraq office in Erbil, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Our registration process in Syria is ongoing.

Cordaid’s activities in Syria comprise first and second line humanitarian responses to people affected by the conflict in Syria, as well as support to the local humanitarian sector.

First line humanitarian aid

We provide a first line temporary humanitarian response through temporary emergency WASH, food aid, shelter and cash assistance for conflict-affected people in Aleppo, Hasaqe and Raqqa governorates, mainly IDPs, returnees and residents in the liberated areas. Thus we provide hot meals in field kitchens, distribute essential non-food items, help people to find proper housing and cover the cost of urgent medical services.

Second line humanitarian aid

We provide second line humanitarian responses by rehabilitating basic infrastructure (water and sanitation, shelter, schools and health centers) and improving the livelihood of IDPs, returnees and residents in Aleppo, Damascus and Latakia. Part of our second line response is our vocational training program in Damascus. 500 young Syrians who are displaced by the conflict take part in it and are provided with business start up kits, thus increasing their chances to generate an income. Our second line response also includes capacity building activities for local humanitarian actors.

Partners and donors

In Syria Dutch, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the main strategic partner. Cordaid is a member of the Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) and working in partnership with Syrian local organizations.

The DRA responds to major humanitarian crises in a timely and effective manner. The Alliance is a cooperation of 14 Dutch NGO’s and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The DRA’s Syria Joint Response is carried out by: Care, Cordaid, Dorcas, ICCO, Oxfam, Save the Children, Stichting Vluchteling, Plan, Tearfund, Terre des Hommes, War Child, World Vision and ZOA. It is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Other important partners in Syria include Caritas Syria and the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS).