As conflict surged across Syria and southern Lebanon in late 2024, families already living on the edge were pushed into deeper crisis. Over 100,000 people were newly displaced in Syria following a dramatic shift in power, while 74,000 fled violence in southern Lebanon—many crossing borders in search of safety. 

Amid shuttered markets, frozen banks, and damaged roads, ADRA Syria pressed forward. Thanks the support of generous donors, we continued laying the foundation for the ELAF Project in Latakia, offering food security to the most vulnerable. In December, along with our partners, we assisted 1,200 families with food assistance, including 148 small households, often elderly couples or single mothers.  

This project, funded by donations and help from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, delivered monthly food vouchers to over 1,000 families, helping them afford basics, ease debt, and regain a sense of dignity. 

 “When the bombs fell, our world shattered,” said Marwa, a mother of three. “But ADRA’s gentle hands pulled us back from the darkness.”   

ADRA’s regional response doesn’t stop at the border. In Lebanon, families like Claude’s are also receiving vital support. After an airstrike destroyed their home, Claude, her husband, and their four children fled to Mount Lebanon with nothing. Today, they live in a bare one-bedroom space where two of the children sleep on a bench outside. Claude works irregular cleaning jobs despite health issues, just to feed her family. “When I got the SMS from ADRA, I felt like I won a million dollars in the lottery,” she said. “Please, tell the donors: don’t stop this help. Without it, we wouldn’t eat.” 

Whether in a shelter in Lebanon or a remote village in Syria, hope arrives in the form of food, dignity, and stability made possible by the unwavering compassion of people who choose to give. The impact of that generosity stretches across borders, sustaining families who are navigating unimaginable loss. While the road to recovery is long, every act of kindness brings someone closer to safety, health, and the possibility of a better future.