An earthquake just struck Syria. Or, at least, that’s how it might seem in some areas of Latakia—the most important port city in Syria and a manufacturing hub for surrounding rural and agricultural communities. In reality, the effects of the earthquake that struck the nation in February of 2023 are still keenly being felt by many survivors.

Speaking with members of our extended ADRA network team and family in Syria, it became clear that for many people in Latakia, the feeling that there is an ongoing emergency has lingered as a daily experience, even years after the quake. Recovery has been slow. Damaged roads and infrastructure made the initial emergency response difficult, and ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts have been strained not only by physical barriers but also economic and social aftershocks. The same can be said in other parts of the country.

This unease lingers under a misleading superficial layer of “calm.” The earth may not be actively shaking, but just below the surface there are tremors of economic instability. Families are still stuck navigating deeply disrupted livelihoods, high food prices, and limited access to money.

Money, in fact, has become one of the major issues in this emergency. Many families bear the pressure of an exchange rate frozen in a very unfavourable place that doesn’t match real-life daily market value. Additionally, banks have set extremely strict withdrawal limits as they try to navigate economic turmoil—especially considering the whole country is in the process of replacing its physical national currency.

In response to this uncertainty around money, ADRA has been working carefully to build its food assistance in Latakia around a voucher-based system. Families receive food vouchers that scale to the size of their respective households. This accounts for the differences between very small families and multi-generational homes. It also allows families to shop for their food locally, which not only meets household needs but also contributes economically to local markets. ADRA saw over 1,000 households participate in the sixth distribution cycle (Dec. 2025) alone—a meaningful step against the volatility of the current economic state and a way to preserve the dignity and freedom of choice that families need in such hard times.

This sixth distribution cycle was a logistical win thanks to careful coordination. With banks on the verge of a shut down—again, to facilitate a change to the whole nation’s currency—ADRA Syria, ADRA Canada, partner banks, and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent worked together to compress the entire distribution into four admittedly intense days. It was hard work, yes, but it also ensured that families received support before the nation’s financial systems shut down for weeks.

This ongoing emergency response is also having a significant social effect, with a notable majority of household management of vouchers, food selection, and major decision-making being handled by women. Project staff have observed an increase in joint spousal decision making, and women reporting a greater sense of confidence in themselves and trust invested in them on the part of their partners. Quietly but definitively, women are being empowered into positions of greater visibility and equitable influence even amid the ongoing crisis.

Beyond this, Syrian families are supporting each other through the hard times. The real transformation, of course, comes from the people lifting themselves out of their struggle—a reality that ADRA proudly serves. Local people have taken to sharing their transportation resources, creating agreed-upon price lists despite economic instability, and engaging in collective feedback, complaint, and problem-solving processes.

After the December distribution, two early 2026 distributions remained to complete the total of eight. One advisory committee and one post-distribution monitoring activity remain. This work continues because it must—because of ADRA’s ongoing commitment to Justice, Compassion, and Love, and our tireless aim to serve humanity so all may live as God intended.

As we receive reports from our projects around the world, we see reflections of our own struggles reflected in the situations facing others. Our work in situations like this and around the world cannot continue without the support of people like you. Please consider becoming an ADRA supporter so that we can ease the burdens of our friends in Syria, around the world, and even here in Canada.