SYRIA FOR OVER A DECADE - A LIFELINE FOR MILLIONS - Islamic Relief Malaysia
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ISLAMIC RELIEF IN SYRIA A LIFELINE FOR MILLIONS FOR OVER A DECADE
This publication is dedicated to
ISLAMIC RELIEF
the memory of Nebras Elhelow,
an inspiring Islamic Relief
volunteer who risked his life
IN SYRIA
Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired humanitarian One of the largest charities still operating in
every day to assist vulnerable and development agency working to save and Syria, Islamic Relief is also active in several
transform the lives of some of the world’s neighbouring countries, where many Syrian
people in Syria. most vulnerable people. Established in the refugees rely on our assistance. Every year
UK in 1984, we work in over 40 countries, we support millions of people affected by the
Nebras was killed by an air strike in 2015. assisting people according to need, and do not crisis.
He was 27 years old. He is remembered by discriminate in any way.
We have provided life-saving aid, including
his colleagues as an energetic and selfless
humanitarian.
Nebras Elhelow When the crisis in Syria broke out in 2011, food and water supplies, medical treatment
we began providing humanitarian aid to and shelter to families. We have also
His work lives on through Islamic Relief, and affected people in neighbouring countries. The supported communities and individuals to
we will keep it going for as long as the crisis following year, we started delivering projects rebuild their lives through programmes
continues – with due respect and high regard inside Syria where we have remained on the focused on livelihoods, food security and
for Nebras, who paid the ultimate price for ground as the years passed and the crisis water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
helping those in need. deepened. Education, child welfare, orphan support and
empowering women have also been integral
parts of our work in Syria.
Um Anwar, a widow
living in a camp, cares
for her child, who has
disabilities. Islamic
Relief has provided
the family with
necessities including
a tent, winter supplies
and hygiene packs.
Nebras (left) carries
essential items for those
in need in Syria in 2015.
Cover Image: Solar panels installed by Islamic Relief
enable Mustafa to grow food for his family.
2 3
WHERE WE WORK
For over a decade the crisis in Syria has Our health interventions, including
taken a terrible toll on the population. supporting the only free heart surgery
More than six million people have been centre in northern Syria, improve
forced to flee the country, while millions access to care and save lives during the
more have become internally displaced pandemic and beyond. In education, our
– often several times. Every aspect of work is helping to give hope and a sense
With a team of hundreds, Islamic Relief Syria’s infrastructure has been impacted, of stability to children who have known
is one of the largest humanitarian with shortages of food, fuel and medicines nothing but hardship.
now an everyday reality for many.
organisations operating in northern Syria. The challenges that Syria and its
Unemployment is widespread and children people face remain substantial and we
We serve vulnerable people who are in born since 2011 have been denied a recognise that delivering aid on its own
great need, including those who have been safe and happy childhood. The Covid-19
pandemic has made the situation even
is not enough. Islamic Relief continues
to urge the international community to
forced from their homes. We have provided worse, heaping pressure on a healthcare find a solution to the crisis, but we are
food for over 562,000 internally displaced system already on the brink of collapse
and prompting concerns about the safety
committed to supporting those in need for
as long as they need us.
persons (IDPs) annually and have delivered of those living in overcrowded camps.
I would like to thank our dedicated
vital healthcare support to almost 1.3 The people of Syria have lost their homes, staff and volunteers in Syria and
livelihoods and in many cases their loved the neighbouring countries for their
million people each year. ones, with many at home and abroad commitment to serving the most
struggling with poverty and fears of an vulnerable, sometimes at great risk to
uncertain future. But they have not lost themselves. A big thank you is also due
hope. to our partners and supporters whose
generous donations make it possible to
Islamic Relief has been providing food, continue our life-saving work in Syria.
water and emergency shelter to Syrians
Aleppo since the crisis began. We are in awe of
the strength and resilience of the Syrian
Idlib people in the face of so many difficulties.
We stand with them in their calls for
peace and continue to offer our support
as they begin to rebuild their lives and
communities.
In the north of Syria, and among refugee
communities in neighbouring countries,
Islamic Relief is starting people on the
road to becoming self-reliant once more
through livelihood projects that help
parents feed their children and improve
their quality of life.
Dr Ahmed Nasr
Deputy Director,
Global Programme Operations
4 5
HUMANITARIAN “OUR LIVES HAVE
NEEDS IN SYRIA CHANGED A LOT”
Over 14 million people need
humanitarian assistance
Almost 90% of the
population live below
the poverty line
6.7 million people are
internally displaced within Syria –
1.9 million of whom live in camps
and informal settlements
50% of healthcare Mustafa is using the money The station now distributes water through a
water network to the village for free.
workers are thought to he used to spend on water to “In the past, we did not have a reliable source
have fled the country buy food for his children. of water. We had to look for water tankers and
pay money, but now water reaches homes
The crisis has forced Mustafa, 56, to flee without the effort or trouble we suffered in
several times in search of safety. Heavy the past.
12.4 million people bombardment drove him from his home in
Aleppo to a village in northwestern Syria
before he was forced to flee again to another
“We used to collect water from underground
do not know where their next village.
tanks. It was exposed to insects and diseases,
but now we no longer need to store water. We
meal is coming from “I have eight children. We live in poverty
are drinking clean water, taking showers, and
watering the plants. I am very happy now.
because of the lack of job opportunities,”
2.45 million
Mustafa says. “We are saving the money we used to spend
on water to buy food for our young children.
“Previously, we used to buy water through Our lives have changed a lot, water is life.”
children were out tankers, but now Islamic Relief has installed
solar panels for the water station in the
of school in 2020 village.”
Source: ‘2021 Humanitarian Needs Overview: Syrian Arab Republic’, OCHA
6 7
2016
OVER A DECADE OF As the crisis reaches its fifth
year, Islamic Relief works
to help empower struggling
LIFESAVING SUPPORT
families to improve their income
through livelihoods projects.
2012 2017
Following the outbreak of the Islamic Relief puts smiles on
crisis, Islamic Relief builds the faces of children living in
camps for newly displaced camps in Syria by supporting
people in the north of Syria them with food, clothes and
through our emergency learning materials.
response projects.
2018
Throughout the crisis, Islamic
2013 Relief continues to provide
Islamic Relief provides clean free flour and bread to
water for displaced people displaced people and poor
by digging several wells in families in camps on the
northern Syria and pumping Turkish-Syrian border.
water to camps and villages.
2019
Each year, Islamic Relief
distributes qurbani meat
packages to displaced people
living in camps in the north
2014 of Syria, helping them to
During the holy month of
celebrate Eid.
Ramadan, Islamic Relief
distributes food parcels to
people in camps, helping
them to break their fast.
2020
As Covid-19 engulfs the globe,
Islamic Relief works to limit the
spread of the virus in Syria’s camps
and to provide health facilities with
essential protective equipment.
2015
Islamic Relief distributes
food parcels to assist 2021
crisis-hit families in the The Islamic Relief Centre
city of Aleppo during a for Cardiac Surgery
period of particularly performs its first heart
intense conflict. surgery. The facility is
a lifeline to patients in
northern Syria.
8 9
ISLAMIC RELIEF’S “WE FEEL HOPEFUL AND ENERGISED”
PROGRAMMES
RELIABLE LIVELIHOODS TO RESTORE
HOPE AND FIGHT HUNGER
Abu Ziyad, from Aleppo, was
forced to flee his home with
his seven children and two
grandchildren.
Islamic Relief “There is no safety,” Abu Ziyad says, recalling changed to activity, and we grow and work on
supports Syrian that he used to cultivate his land with a the land as before,” he says, adding that the
wide range of crops. Then the crisis began, project has physical, mental and economic
refugees to grow damaging his precious farmland and making benefits.
their own food. it unsafe for people to visit their fields. Abu
Being outside has also allowed Abu Ziyad to
Ziyad says some of his friends were killed
while tending to their harvests. continue to work despite the upheaval of the
Covid-19 pandemic.
The people of Syria are paying a heavy price benefited from our Ramadan food parcels, “I do not know the fate of my home or land
for over a decade of devastating crisis. More while almost 130,000 received qurbani meat now,” he says. “Due to the spread of the coronavirus, many
than half of the population has been uprooted from Islamic Relief during Eid al-Adha. job opportunities have stopped. However this
from their homes, often more than once. Many Abu Ziyad recently rented new land, and agricultural project prevented mixing with
people are now living in dire conditions, while We also run livelihoods projects that help Islamic Relief has provided him with seeds people and polluted air and saved us from
the millions who fled the country face poverty families in crisis to improve their living and fertiliser. certain death due to coronavirus,” he says.
and precarious futures abroad. conditions and build more hopeful futures.
In Syria and neighbouring countries, we help “We were living in a state of stagnation and Abu Ziyad hopes to see his children married,
The Syrian economy has contracted sharply, individuals and families to earn a sustainable lethargy until this project came, and then we and to one day build his own home like the
and repeated economic shocks have triggered income and become self-reliant once more. felt hopeful and energised,” he says. one he lived in before the crisis.
price hikes, fuel shortages and the depreciation
of the Syrian pound. In Turkey, Islamic Relief supports Syrian “I spray fertilisers, clean the land of weeds “We will install solar panels that give us
refugees to grow their own food through and spray pesticides, and we hope to God that electricity. We can operate a small television
Spiralling food costs have pushed even more agricultural livelihoods programmes. Hundreds the rains will not be late, and that the season so that the young children can watch useful
people into food insecurity, with millions now of people have embarked on these life- is abundant. I thank Islamic Relief for such programmes and entertainment.
unsure where their next meal will come from. changing skills development programmes, projects as they represent a glimmer of hope
which teach beekeeping and agricultural skills. for us to continue life. “This project gives us the hope to build a
Islamic Relief provides freshly baked bread and house and live a healthy life away from the
other food, reaching more than 575,000 people “We used to depend on aid and food baskets, camps,” he says.
in 2020. That same year, nearly 92,000 people but now we have self-reliance, inactivity has
10 11
“I WISH FOR ALL THE
SUPPORTING SCHOOLS CHILDREN TO RETURN TO
THEIR HOMES AND SCHOOLS”
AND LEARNERS Sali, 10, was born at the beginning of the
crisis in Syria. She was forced to flee her
“I hope to God that this crisis ends, so that the
children of Syria can return to their homes.
village and leave her school, but has since My dream is to become a teacher in order to
returned to both. teach them, take care of them, and make up
for what they lost in knowledge.
“We have gone through many economic,
psychological and other crises. I lost my “I wish for all the children to return to their
friends because of the war, they all fled. I’m villages and schools. When I see the camps,
so sad about that. I grieve a lot and feel the tragedy of how the
children in them suffer from rain, cold and
“I thank God that I am now in my village storms. I am very sad for them.
despite the great destruction that has befallen
it. I was very pleased to return to the village “I am sending a message to all the children
school, although it was bombed and a large who have lost their homes and schools: Do
part of it was destroyed. not lose hope because I am sure that one day
everything will return to the way it was.”
Children learn Sali wants to be
at a school a teacher so she
supported by can help children
Islamic Relief make up for the
in Idlib. knowledge they
lost during the
years of crisis.
Millions of Syrian children are out of school, Islamic Relief is committed to supporting
and still more are at risk of dropping out. schools in Syria by providing training for
School buildings have been damaged and teachers along with monthly stipends to
destroyed, leaving parents fearful of sending allow the teachers and administrative staff
their children to school. to continue working. We also contribute
essential materials to schools including
Displacement and the Covid-19 pandemic desks, laptops and printers.
have further disrupted children’s access to
education. Many schools have been unable to We help children focus on their studies by
implement measures to prevent the spread providing them with stationery and school
of the coronavirus and most students lack the bags. Islamic Relief is also looking out for
equipment needed for remote learning. the health of Syria’s young people, by making
counselling services available through
Educational support schools, and ensuring children receive
nutritious school meals.
for more than 9.2
million people
12 13
“EDUCATION IS A HOPE FOR
THE NEW GENERATION” LIFE-SAVING
Teacher Hassan
is striving to give
HEALTHCARE
children the best
possible education. INTERVENTIONS
Staff work on patients at
a heart surgery centre
funded by Islamic Relief
in northern Syria.
Hassan is an Arabic language teacher whose “Teachers are volunteers, working without
village was bombed. Despite the difficulties, pay, and the lack of support poses difficulties
he is striving to make sure children receive an for us and for the parents of the students.
education. Many parents are displaced people who
cannot send their children to school because
“When I returned home, the shock was great. of poverty and their inability to secure school
I found my house was a remnant where the supplies.
beautiful memories disappeared under the
rubble and debris. “The teacher lives in a difficult financial
situation and needs a salary to meet the
“I found the school where I had been working needs and requirements of their family as
as a teacher in ruins. I entered the school and well as to perform their role as a teacher well.
the scenes of destruction were indescribable.
“The schools that operate now face great
“This was a huge shock. I lost my home, the challenges due to the lack of classrooms.
school I work at, and the good memories. The classrooms are full of students since
These repeated shocks gave me a great other schools have been destroyed. We
incentive to stay in the country. are converting administrative rooms into
After years of crisis and the arrival of specialist dialysis centres, as well as
classrooms.
“I love my country and its people very much. Covid-19, Syria’s healthcare sector is on the providing support during the Covid-19
There are many children who are missing out “The destroyed schools need repairing so that brink of collapse. The few remaining health pandemic.
on education in Syria due to the crisis, and we students can return to their classrooms and facilities lack the medicine, equipment, and
are doing our best to mitigate the negative resources to provide desperately needed care. We established and continue to support the
the educational process can run smoothly.
effects on students by providing everything only heart surgery centre in northern Syria –
we can. “Educational staff are highly qualified and The rising cost of essential commodities, an essential service for patients in the area,
committed to students despite the difficulties. particularly fuel, is making it difficult for many of whom previously had to travel to
“Before the crisis, there was a strong This is what encouraged parents to send their hospitals and other healthcare facilities in Turkey to receive treatment. At the centre
relationship between students and teachers, children to school. northern Syria to continue their essential patients are treated for free.
as we used to hold honouring ceremonies work.
for outstanding students. But after the
intensification of the crisis, we began living
“I hope that our town will return to what it
was before the crisis, and that the destroyed Islamic Relief is providing life-saving Healthcare for almost
in a state of constant fear that we would be schools will be repaired and filled with their healthcare in Syria, running facilities
including mobile emergency units and
1.3 million people
forced to evacuate students during school students and teachers again. Education is a
hours. hope for the new generation.”
14 15
“MY HEART IS PUMPING PERFECTLY”
ON THE COVID-19
FRONTLINE Ahmed’s health
has improved
significantly
after he
Dr Ihsan is worried received free
about how Covid-19 treatment at a
is affecting displaced heart surgery
people. centre funded by
Islamic Relief.
Ahmed, 58, suffered from severe heart “After the operation and its success, my health
disease and was facing the prospect of an improved significantly. Before the operation I
expensive treatment in Turkey before hearing would suffer while climbing the stairs of the
about Islamic Relief’s heart surgery centre. house. I also felt very tired due to shortness
of breath.
“A doctor told me that surgery was the only
option, and that I needed to travel to Turkey “I am very grateful that I was able to have the
for the operation. I had a lot of anxiety about surgery for free at the Cardiac Surgery Centre
travelling to Turkey, as no one was allowed to with the support of Islamic Relief.
travel with me, and it would cost around $500.
Heart patients suffer from a major crisis if “I thank the medical staff for the excellent
the crossings between Syria and Turkey are service they provided me and thank God I am
closed. now in the best condition. I go to the market
four to five times every day to buy some
“I heard from someone that Islamic Relief things, and I walk without getting tired.
was preparing the first heart surgery centre
in northern Syria that treats patients for free, “I feel like I’ve been born again, and my heart
and I felt comfortable just hearing the news. is pumping perfectly.
Dr Ihsan, a cardiologist working at a hospital “We medical staff are the most exposed to
in northern Syria, is deeply worried about the virus, and even if we are not afraid for “When I heard about this centre, I went to “This centre is considered one of the most
the dangers of Covid-19, especially in camps ourselves, we worry about our families. I them directly and the doctors conducted the important medical centres in northern Syria.
sheltering displaced families. am most worried about my mother who is necessary tests and analyses and set a date The centre is a lifeline for heart patients who
very elderly and has heart disease. I am also for the operation. They found that three veins do not have the money or the ability to travel.”
“In camps, people are living in very poor worried about my children, but thankfully the were completely closed, and the fourth artery
conditions and are unable to practise good virus has a milder effect on children. was 34 per cent closed.
hygiene. Clean water is not available all the
time. People are unable to regularly wash “We don’t know what is going to happen. We “The doctors told me how surprised they
their hands as they do not have water or soap. dream about all displaced people being able were that I was still alive because of my
They cannot afford to buy face masks. to go home, leaving behind their tents and poor condition and the blockage of the main
their miserable situation.” arteries. I could not have had the operation
“People cannot socially distance due to in a private centre because of the high costs,
the cramped conditions. If someone gets which amount to $6,000.”
coronavirus, it is impossible for them to
quarantine as they are living in a tent with six “I had the operation with complete success,
other people. We pray to Allah to help these thanks to God and the efforts of the doctors.
people. All the costs of the surgery were free, I can’t
even express how happy I am.
16 17
PROVIDING COMFORT
DURING THE COLD MONTHS WINTER MADE WARMER
FOR FATIMA AND HER FAMILY
Fatima lost everything when her village through heavy rain and complete darkness, as
was bombed. She now lives in a camp for at the time, there was no electricity outside of
displaced people with her young children. the camp. I will never forget the horror of that
The harsh winter makes the family’s situation night.”
even more difficult.
Whether sheltering in this camp, or in another,
Fatima recalls a night when heavy snow the family always face hardship.
and high winds destroyed many of the tents,
including her own. “All of the camps are equal in their suffering.
We hope that at least here, our conditions will
“Our clothes and beds were very wet and my be better than anywhere else.”
children caught a cold. I will never forget it.
The winter survival items distributed by
“Stones fall from the mountains during Islamic Relief are a lifeline to families such
bad weather. It isn’t possible to hear the as Fatima’s. They receive warm clothing for
stones coming, so when it happens, it is very children, plastic sheets for tents, blankets,
frightening. Once, the stones hit our tent, but and mattresses as well as fuel for heating.
by the grace of God, we woke up in time to
flee to our relatives in another camp. We ran
Fatima and her
children smile after
receiving a package
of essential items
from Islamic Relief.
Um Abdo and her children Winter in Syria is extremely harsh, bringing with it sub-zero
temperatures, icy winds and snow. Many displaced families
warm themselves by the live in make-shift tents lacking proper protection from the
elements. To try and keep warm, families sometimes resort to
stove after receiving coal fuelling fires with plastic items or clothing. The fumes that are
from Islamic Relief. released are extremely toxic and can kill.
Islamic Relief helps to support Syrian families throughout
the winter months by providing food, clothing, blankets, fuel,
stoves and heaters. In the winter of 2019-2020 alone, our
annual winter campaign helped almost 140,000 people to
survive the harsh weather in Syria.
We also provide essential items to Syrian refugees in
neighbouring countries to help them cope during the cold
months. We have distributed vouchers to buy fuel, as well as
essentials such as blankets, plastic sheeting and mattresses.
18 19MEAT PARCELS MAKING
PARCELS OF JOY FOR FAMILIES SMILE AGAIN
RAMADAN AND EID
A man receives a
Ramadan food parcel
in a Syrian refugee
camp in Turkey.
Every year, Islamic Relief
provides vulnerable families
in Syria, and refugees in
neighbouring countries, with
food parcels during Ramadan,
Um Yousef gives She worries that poor nutrition is harming her
children’s physical and mental growth. But
and qurbani meat for Eid thanks for qurbani Um Yousef was able to put aside that fear for
al-Adha. We strive to ensure a few days during Eid, after receiving three
that some of those living in meat distributed by kilos of qurbani meat.
hardship are able to break
their fast during the holy
Islamic Relief. “You can see people smiling again. People are
month and celebrate Eid. happy they can receive some qurbani meat to
Um Yousef, a widow with two young children,
share with their families.
lives in a camp for displaced people. She
Wherever possible, we
is one of the recipients of an Islamic Relief “I cooked the meat and fed my children. We
integrate these seasonal food
qurbani meat package. had not eaten meat for months. It was very
distributions with our other
projects so we can make sure tasty.”
“We have no breadwinner, we rely entirely on
we are reaching those we Allah for help. Almost everyone in this camp
need us most. is suffering. The living conditions are bad, we
Each year, more than 180,000 Syrian children living in a camp can’t afford food, clothes or basic necessities,”
Um Yousef says.
people in Syria benefit from
our Ramadan and qurbani
in Turkey smile as qurbani meat
distributions. is distributed.
20 21VITAL SUPPORT FOR
SYRIAN REFUGEES Islamic Relief is working to help Syrian “This project is considered a clean and
refugees rebuild their lives by providing environmentally friendly project, as it
Hana is supporting her support and training, so they can become contributes to keeping the environment clean
self-reliant once more. and beautifying the city.
family after receiving
“We planted strawberries on the land and
training through After her husband died, Hana, the yield was excellent - even more than we
Islamic Relief. 52, fled Syria with her two expected. We sell everything, and we get
enough money. It has brought great benefit
daughters. Seeking safety in and our lives have been positively affected
Turkey, she was the family’s for the better. The project gives us self-
confidence.
sole provider. “I have become very active, relying on myself.
“I was handed the role of father and mother My daughters look at me with pride because
at home: raising children and getting we have our own project, and my eldest
them daily sustenance. It was a great daughter goes with me to help. After being
responsibility,” says Hana. dependent on others, I became a productive
woman and a contributor to society.
“My monthly income was about $150. It was
not enough to meet my needs and the needs “I was not able to buy clothes and meet
of my orphaned daughters. I was living in my children’s needs in the past, whether
stressful, difficult circumstances. We used school needs, Eid clothes, or paying the rent,
to wait monthly for food aid and orphan electricity, and water bills. Now, thanks to the
sponsorship support to be able to meet some project, I have the ability to meet all these
of our daily needs”. needs without the help of anyone.”
Then Islamic Relief stepped in, offering Hana
a place on a livelihoods project for widowed
women.
“Islamic Relief provided us with everything
we need. They provided us with complete
training on how to deal with plants, plant
and care for them, and harvest them. They
also provided us with nylon and iron to build
greenhouses, and they helped us step by step
to advance the project.
“The engineers followed up with us, helping
to solve all the problems that we faced.
The crisis has driven more than six Islamic Relief also leased land for us for
million people from Syria in the hope of three years.
finding safety and a better life. Most live
in neighbouring countries.
22 23HELPING CHILDREN IMPACT IN NUMBERS
THRIVE On average, Islamic Relief has helped more
than 2 million people each year in Syria.
1.5 million people received
food aid
890,000 people given winter
survival assistance
12,000 people received
livelihoods support
780,000 people served by
water projects
More than 1,300 More than 3 million people
orphans supported reached by Ramadan and
qurbani distributions
Almost six million children have been born Islamic Relief has been working to support
since the crisis in Syria began, according children throughout the crisis with projects
430,000 people helped
to the United Nations (UN). They have been focused on psycho-social support and through our Covid-19
denied a happy, safe and secure childhood. education. Our aim is to help ensure that response
Instead, fear, displacement and hardship have children are protected and able to enjoy their
been their constant companions. childhood in safety.
A child dies by violence every 10 hours on In neighbouring Turkey, we are supporting 11 education projects
average in Syria, and more than 2.5 million
children have been uprooted and forced to
some 1,300 orphaned children who are reached 92,000 people
living as refugees. The regular stipends that
flee in search of safety, the UN says. Many their guardians receives ensures they have
children have also lost their parents and access to the education, shelter, nutrition and
close relatives during the crisis. healthcare they need in order to thrive. 41 health projects reached
Their access to education has been severely
almost 140,000 people
disrupted and international aid groups have
warned that the psychological scars of
being born into this environment will take More than 380 projects
years to heal.
delivered from 2012 to 2021
24 25THANK YOU TO OUR
SUPPORTERS
Islamic Relief’s vital work in Syria and with Syrian refugees in
neighbouring countries is made possible by the generosity of our
supporters, donors and partners around the world. We warmly
thank these individuals, businesses and institutional donors for
their support for our operations, which are a lifeline for so many
vulnerable people.
Islamic Relief Worldwide
19 Rea Street South
Birmingham
B5 6LB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 121 605 5555
Fax: +44 121 622 5003
irw@irworldwide.org
www.islamic-relief.org
Registered Charity No. 328158
Registered Company No. 02365572
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