Johanniter in Syria
Needs and Context
After 13 years of war and more than half a century of brutal rule by the al-Assad family, Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by rebels in early December 2024. Mohammed al-Bashir leads the transitional government. Nobody currently knows where the country is heading and what this means for the work of aid organizations.
The fact is that the humanitarian situation in the country is devastating. More than 70 percent of the population is dependent on aid. 90 percent of Syrians live below the poverty line. Around 12 million people are displaced as a result of the conflicts inside and outside the country. Civilian infrastructure has been destroyed and bombed over the years. Many civilians are dependent on water deliveries by truck or distribution by aid organizations.
In addition, on February 6, 2023, severe earthquakes with magnitudes of up to 7.8 and numerous aftershocks struck south-eastern Turkey and north-western Syria. More than 50,000 people lost their lives and 80,000 were injured. More than seven million people throughout the region were left homeless and have been dependent on humanitarian aid ever since. Many of those affected are still living in tents or containers.
Johanniter's Interventions in Syria
Since the first days after the earthquake, we have been working with Our partners MAPS and BAHAR to provide emergency aid to those affected. In Syria, many families have lost their livelihoods as a result of the earthquake and therefore continue to rely on support to meet their daily needs.
Together with our partner BAHAR, we support people in earning regular income through a cash-for-work programme involving manual labour such as construction work, cleaning, food production or knitting clothes, while at the same time doing good for the community.
In the long term, women and men who participate in courses that help them to become self-employed with their skills and ideas become independent of aid. They also receive start-up money and accompanying advice. Our partner MAPS provides young people with prospects through training programmes for technical professions.
The earthquake also destroyed important infrastructure. With BAHAR, we are rebuilding water tanks, supply roads and canals, thereby improving the living conditions of 7,000 people.
Together with the Orange organisation, we are implementing innovative agricultural projects to ensure the effective cultivation of food in the long term.
Our projects in Syria
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Strengthening Resilience
We are improving the living conditions of people in northern and western Syria through a variety of measures.