© Hasan Belal pour le DEC et Action contre la Faim
Press release
More than half of Syrians go hungry 13 years after war began
Syria, after 13 years of war, is suffering from the highest humanitarian needs in its recent history. It is the sixth most food-insecure country in the world, with 16.7 million Syrians now dependent on humanitarian aid.
“The current situation is extremely difficult; 90% of the population lives in poverty with no signs of improvement in sight. It is essential to continue saving lives, but it is also crucial to invest in recovery so that the most vulnerable can rebuild their lives in dignity,” said Olivier Longué, Director General of Action Against Hunger, during his recent visit to various Action Against Hunger projects in Syria.
Syria has also been facing a global inflation rate of 100% since the beginning of the year. Record fuel and food prices are having a devastating effect on the country’s most vulnerable populations. Families have to choose between food, school, medicine, or fuel, as they can’t afford it all. “The frigid winter temperatures have further increased the vulnerability of the Syrian population, as many cannot afford to buy fuel to heat their homes,” said Action Against Hunger Syria Director Darius Zietek.
Solar panels to regain the dignity of having electricity and hot water
“We used to stay between 10 and 15 families in the same room, with no privacy; now, thanks to these solar panels installed by Action Against Hunger, we have locks and lighting in every room and every family has their space. Life has, somehow, returned to normal,” shares Duha alAshkar, a mother of four who, like 400 other families, found refuge in a school rehabilitated by the organization in the Syrian capital.
“By installing solar panels on the roof of the building, we have managed to ensure that refugee families living here have electricity and hot water. In addition, thanks to a filtration system, they also have access to clean water to drink. All these services bring a minimum of dignity and intimacy to the families who take refuge here,” explains the Director General of Action Against Hunger, Olivier Longué.
© Hasan Belal pour le DEC et Action contre la Faim
We transform desert areas into fertile areas for re-cultivation
In places like Aleppo, we have turned areas affected by Syria’s worst drought in 70 years into green, fertile land. “We have transformed a quasi-desert area into almost 3,000 hectares of fertile land. This has been possible thanks to the restoration of the pumping systems, which has allowed farmers to grow crops again, ensuring food security in the area, explains Olivier Longué.
We work on the prevention of diseases such as cholera and offer healthcare through mobile clinics
Water is scarce in Syria and the situation has been deteriorating in recent years. This not only impacts food production and the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers, but also poses a serious threat to the health of the population. Many families are forced to reduce their water consumption or drink it in an unhealthy state, leading to epidemics such as last year’s cholera outbreak.
“In communities severely affected by the recent cholera outbreak, we have rehabilitated the entire sanitation system. We are working on large-scale works together with teams of engineers to change the sewage and waste disposal systems,” adds Olivier Longué. “In addition, we have implemented mobile clinics that provide medicines and healthcare to more than 8,000 people, ensuring that medical assistance reaches those who need it most.“
© May Mahmoud pour Action contre la Faim
Action Against Hunger has been operating in Syria since 2008 and is one of the most important international humanitarian organizations providing aid in the country. We work on projects to restore resilience; reproductive health services in primary, maternal and child care; water supply and sanitation in emergencies; supporting farmers and families through training and income-generating initiatives, and improving access to safe drinking water by strengthening these services in vulnerable communities, among others.
“Humanitarian crises are multiplying and international attention tends to focus on the most recent ones, but we must not forget Syria,” concludes Darius Zietek.
Syria
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