CARE International’s history in Syria
CARE started working in Syria in 2013, when a devastating conflict created massive humanitarian needs across the country.
In the early years of the conflict, CARE focused on providing emergency aid to people affected by violence and forced to flee their homes. This included food assistance, water, sanitation, and protection services, and shelter support for displaced families and vulnerable host communities.
As the war continued for the following 12 years, we expanded our work beyond emergency aid to help communities start rebuilding their lives.
In 2025, a massive change in Syria’s government marked an important moment in the country's history. However, humanitarian needs remain massive.
CARE continues to support communities meet both urgent and long-term needs.
CARE and partners’ work in Syria today
CARE works through a network of local partners to respond to humanitarian needs across Syria while supporting communities to recover and rebuild. Our work focuses on:
Crisis response
CARE provides emergency aid to families affected by conflict and displacement. This includes cash assistance, food support, and hygiene kits to help families meet urgent needs.
We also provide temporary shelter and essential household items to displaced families and support the repair and rehabilitation of damaged homes. Through a Build Back Better approach, we work to ensure returning families have safer and more resilient houses.
Food and water
CARE improves access to safe water and sanitation services through water trucking, hygiene kits, and rehabilitation of water and sanitation systems. These efforts particularly help improve living conditions for displaced families staying in camps and informal settlements.
Health
We support primary healthcare services, including sexual and reproductive health care, through health facilities and mobile outreach teams. Mobile teams travel between communities in need to ensure medical support reaches all people. CARE and our partners also help diagnose and treat cases of malnutrition.
Making the economy work
CARE supports families to restore livelihoods and rebuild economic stability through small business support, skills training, and income-generating activities. Programs include Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), mentorship for entrepreneurs, and cash-for-work initiatives that help rehabilitate community infrastructure such as roads, markets, and bakeries.
CARE works closely with Syrian partner organizations to ensure programs reach communities most affected by the crisis.
Focus on women and girls
Women and girls are at the center of CARE’s work in Syria.
Conflict and displacement have increased the risks women and girls face, including violence, exploitation, and limited access to services and economic opportunities.
CARE works closely with local partners, including women-led and women’s rights organizations, to ensure programs respond to the needs and priorities of women and girls.
Together with our partners, CARE supports women and girls to:
- Access services to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls
- Participate in safe spaces and community networks
- Strengthen livelihoods and economic opportunities
- Take part in community leadership and decision-making
CARE’s programs combine protection, livelihoods support, and efforts to address harmful social norms so that women and girls can play a central role in recovery and rebuilding their communities.
For recent updates on CARE Syria’s work, see here.
