Six years on, Syrian people share stories of hope for the future
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Support Pope Francis's continued plea for refugees and for peace in Syria.

Jesuit Refugee Service is on the front lines of the refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe as thousands of Syrians flee across the Mediterranean in the hopes of saving their lives. 

As the conflict in Syria marks its sixth year, the suffering of people there continues with no end in sight. Harsh weather conditions and limited access to basic resources gravely affect displaced families and individuals. Making ends meet is a daily struggle for both the displaced within Syria and those who have fled the country and sought refuge elsewhere. Sizeable sections of them are living in extreme poverty, unable to secure food, water, or medical provisions. 

Delivering humanitarian aid to war-affected populations within Syria is still an urgent issue. There is also the ongoing concern that some neighbouring countries are unable to provide adequate assistance to meet the basic needs of refugees. This lack of assistance threatens the safety of vulnerable people and the stability and security of the region. 

"With some of the neighbouring countries having closed their borders to refugees, vulnerable people inside Syria are trapped and unable to flee. Those outside of Syria often face serious difficulties registering as refugees. This lack of protection leaves those Syrians most in need even more at risk,” says Fr Thomas H. Smolich SJ, JRS International Director. 

An estimated 13.5 million Syrians need humanitarian assistance, and children make up half of that number. More than six million people are internally displaced within Syria; others have fled to neighbouring countries in the Middle East, including Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, and Iraq. While many have sought refuge in Europe, Canada and the United States, only a small percentage have actually been welcomed. 

With its mission to serve those most in need, JRS was in Syria before the crisis began, working with Iraqis and other refugees there. Despite the challenges, JRS has stayed the course during the six years of conflict. JRS continues to address urgent needs while advocating for and with Syrians, advocating for life with dignity. 

In Damascus and Homs, JRS operates education centres in parallel with child protection programs and psychosocial care for children and adults. In Aleppo, JRS teams provide those most vulnerable with emergency humanitarian assistance of food baskets and non-food items. When medical facilities in Aleppo came under ferocious bombardments, JRS continued to provide health services. 

In Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and Europe, JRS works with hundreds of refugees who have fled Syria, providing them with emergency assistance as well as ongoing educational and psychosocial support. 

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Determined Zozan

There is a steely determination in Zozan. As one listens to this 25-year old woman, one cannot but feel that she will go places. In a very casual way, she shares what she would like to do most in life: to learn new languages and to travel to distant lands.


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