Syria

SOS Children’s Villages has been present in Syria since 1981, supporting children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it. Our programs help ensure that children grow up in a safe and caring environment, with the bonds and relationships they need to reach their full potential.

SOS Children’s Villages operates an alternative care program in Damascus, where children without parental care grow up in a family-like environment with dedicated caregivers. Beyond alternative care, we work with families and communities to strengthen their ability to stay together during crises. We also respond to emergencies caused by conflict or natural disasters, helping to protect children, support families, and assist communities in their recovery.

Our impact

200 Children and young people

Grow up in our care

230 Families

Can stay together

100 Young people

Are supported on their way to independence

SOS Children's Villages Syria

Syria is home to around 24 million people. Since the outbreak of conflict in 2011, about 13.5 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). This includes more than 6.1 million who sought refuge in neighbouring countries.

In February 2023, devastating earthquakes killed thousands of people and left many families without shelter or livelihoods. Today, around 16.7 million people in Syria require humanitarian assistance. Of these, 7.2 million are still internally displaced – including more than 3 million children.

Children are at risk

Image	1 in 3 Syrian children show signs of psychological distress Many children in Syria have never known peace. They live in fear of violence, landmines and other remnants of war. Daily life is marked by the lasting physical and emotional effects of conflict, including anxiety, sadness, fatigue and sleep difficulties.
Image	90% of Syrian families live in poverty An estimated 90% of Syrian families live below the poverty line. This dramatic rise is caused by years of conflict, economic collapse, hyperinflation, and the devastating impact of the 2023 earthquakes. Syria’s poverty crisis is deeply multidimensional, affecting nearly every aspect of daily life and posing significant challenges to recovery and development.
Image	2.4 million Syrian children are not in school The Syrian conflict has caused one of the most serious education crises in recent history. Today, millions of children are out of school, and a third of the country’s schools are damaged, destroyed, or repurposed to shelter displaced families. Education is more than learning to read and write – it offers children the chance to rebuild their lives, participate fully in society, and create better futures.
Image	Children and families are facing hunger and food insecurity Over a decade of conflict has deepened Syria’s food crisis, pushing many families into poverty, hunger and food insecurity. According to the World Food Programme, around 9.1 million people are food insecure – including nearly 3 million in severe need. Families struggle to put food on the table due to ongoing instability, prolonged drought, declining wheat production and economic collapse.