After 14 years, when peaceful protests quickly spiraled into civil war, opposition forces have taken back the Syrian city of Damascus.
Where does this leave the people of Syria?
Experts report the death toll from the onset of the crisis in 2011 is as high as 620,000 people; more than 14 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes; and the UN estimates 16.7 million people – more than 70% of the country’s population – are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The standard of living has been set back by decades. More than 70% of Syrians are living in poverty, having lost their livelihoods and unable to meet their basic needs including access to food, clean water, or proper healthcare. The children of Syria are of the most affected as many don’t know life outside of the war and will be forced to face the long-term effects of physical and mental trauma.
Yet, hope remains.
Hana, her husband, and their four children sought refuge in Lebanon after their livelihood was destroyed in Syria. “I remember the night we left,” she recalls. “We could hear the bombs in the distance. We packed what we could carry and just ran.” The psychological toll of displacement took an immense toll on Hana, and she often found herself overwhelmed by anxiety and fear for her children’s future.
Thanks to donors like you, IRUSA was able to attend psychological and social support sessions designed for refugees. “The sessions were a turning point for me,” Hana explains. “I always considered myself strong, but these sessions made me even stronger.
Since 2011, IRUSA has strived to help both families inside of Syria as well as those living in neighboring countries. Our work continues to this day and will continue until the need for humanitarian aid no longer exists.
A few of our interventions include:
Help vulnerable Syrian families. Donate now.