Two Years On – War Child and partners’ response to the earthquakes in Syria

After living through over 12 years of war, the 2023 earthquakes in Syria left tens of thousands injured, forced around 109,000 people to flee their homes, and tragically 4,500 died.

Children and their families lost everything. They had no choice but to live in tents with no running water or electricity. Beyond the physical trauma, the psychological impact was severe. Children were left fearing for their lives, unsure about their futures and struggling to cope with the devastation of both the war and the earthquakes.

At the time, 90% of people in northwest Syria depended on humanitarian aid, with increasing needs for mental health support, education, and basic survival items.

Two years later, War Child and partners Giro 555, the EU Foreign Policy Instrument (European Union), and the Dutch Relief Alliance's Syria Earthquake Joint Response have supported over 125,000 people in northwest Syria to recover.

By scaling up our operations, over 10,500 households have been given shelter, blankets, mattresses, tents and heating. We’ve delivered dignity kits and food parcels and provided over 15,000 people with health and nutrition support.

War Child worked closely with other specialist agencies to refer nearly 800 children for addition support, including those who are unaccompanied or separated from their families.

Thousands of children are now back in formal education, and War Child has supported more than 7,800 of these children to learn again, with new school bags, books and other supplies. We have restored 22 schools into safe and welcoming spaces. Our partners have run catch-up learning sessions to ensure no child gets left behind.

Almost 24,000 children and caregivers have been provided with mental health and psychosocial support as part of our response. With movement-based interventions like TeamUp, we’ve also created safe spaces where children can process their trauma through sports and art. Caregivers like Rana have been provided with support through our BeThere methodology, to help them deal with the heavy burden of war and support the children in their care.

Rana’s story

Rana, a 38-year-old mother of eight from Al-Hamziya village, had endured immense psychological and social pressures from Syria’s ongoing crises and a devastating earthquake. The loss of her parents and her husband’s injury left her struggling to manage her family’s needs.

“I became irritable and easily angered. My relationships with my husband and children were tense, and I isolated myself from my neighbors. I blamed myself constantly and regretted my reactions.”

Through a school WhatsApp group, Rana discovered the BeThere psychosocial support programme and eagerly joined, hoping to turn her life around. According to Alaa, the facilitator of BeThere, “Rana’s struggles were heavy, but her determination to improve was remarkable. From the first session, she spoke openly about her pain and her desire to be a calm and supportive wife and mother.”

During the sessions, Rana learned anger management techniques, relaxation exercises, and positive thinking strategies. She also developed skills to strengthen her family bonds through positive parenting and quality time with her children. “The changes I’ve experienced are incredible,” Rana shared. “I use techniques like counting to ten and taking breaks when I’m upset. I’ve become mindful of my words to avoid hurting others. My relationship with my neighbors has improved, and I feel more social and confident.”

By the fourth session, Rana’s transformation was evident. She appeared calmer, more engaged, and invested in her personal growth. “I feel like a new person,” Rana said. “My family is happy with the changes, and my husband now encourages others to join this program. I hope to keep learning and growing to be my best self.”

Our work continues 

Together with our partners, we’ve helped 70,000 children recover and rebuild hope. However, our work is as important as ever. Millions of children in Syria are still at risk, and their needs remain high, worsened by recent escalations and ongoing insecurity in northern Syria. It is crucial that support continues, ensuring children have access to education, protection, and mental health support.