
Winter in Syria: The feeling of despair is always with us
Winter lasts a long time in Syria. The situation is challenging for displaced families living in makeshift shelters or tents.
The orphans of Syria and Gaza are among the most vulnerable victims of devastating crises. These include 1,500 orphans in Syria, and over 17,000 children in Gaza, as well as more than 5,000 orphans waiting for sponsorship.
14 years of tyranny has left millions of Syrians displaced, including hundreds of thousands of orphaned children. In Gaza, tens of thousands of orphans have been left behind after over 15 months of relentless airstrikes and massacres.
These children have lost their families, homes, and sense of security. They face unimaginable challenges daily, including hunger, trauma, and a lack of access to education and healthcare.
They need immediate and sustained support that fulfils their needs and restores their hope for a brighter tomorrow.
In Syria and Gaza, the scars of war and displacement run deep. Now, with the atrocities they’ve faced, they need our help more than ever.
For nearly 14 years, Syria has endured relentless hardship, destruction, and loss. Families have been torn apart, over 14 million people have fled the country, and nearly 7.2 million remain displaced internally.
Meanwhile, Gaza has faced over a year of unspeakable atrocities. Over 47,000 lives lost in the past 15 months, including thousands of children and women.
In both regions, immense rebuilding efforts are needed. As ongoing economic crises deepen hardship for families, who face shortages of essential goods and poverty.
Health and education systems are also in disarray. Millions of children are out of school. Hospitals are struggling. And families lack to access basic services.
The situation demands urgent and long-term support to address these challenges. To protect vulnerable populations in Syria and Gaza, returning to them hope, dignity, and opportunity.
Islamic Relief has been a lifeline for the people of Syria for over 18 years. We are one of the largest aid organisations supporting Syrian refugees and displaced Syrians.
Through our shared global efforts, in the past year alone, we provided food to over 770,000 displaced people, vital healthcare support to 1.2 million people, and medical necessities to 84 health facilities.
Today, we continue to provide emergency shelter, urgent food support and mobile and vital medical care to Syrian communities and families.
Since 1997, Islamic Relief has been on the ground in Palestine. Because of this, we were one of the first to respond to the escalation in Gaza on October 7, 2023. And we remain supporting Gaza in the aftermath, helping communities heal and rebuild.
Working alongside UN humanitarian organisations and local partners, we continue to distribute aid throughout Gaza every day, delivering daily ready-to-eat meals in Gaza, as well as medical supplies and other essential non-food items.
So far, we have distributed thousands in aid. This includes over 10 million meals. Hygiene kits for more than 60,000 households. Thousands of Litres of clean water per day. As well as psychosocial support for children and women.
Winter lasts a long time in Syria. The situation is challenging for displaced families living in makeshift shelters or tents.
Every year, brutal winter conditions batter vulnerable communities, including Gaza. This is their story of how they survive the cold months.
The recent escalation in Palestine reached the one-year mark, with hundreds of aid and health workers killed among the over 43,000 deaths.