Ten years of war is a long time. But while many images of Syria today are synonymous with images of war, it wasn’t always as it is now. When I first visited Syria in 2011, I experienced a country of rich history and beautiful ancient sites. The highly educated population included many professionals — doctors, pharmacists, teachers, and engineers. Agriculture was a pillar of the Syrian economy, with acres of rolling fields across the country. And Syria was once a place of refuge, hosting hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, and Iraqis who fled conflict in the early 2000s. Generosity is embedded in Syrian culture. Whenever I visited a home, no family would let me leave without pressing delicious foods upon me — kibbeh, bread, hummus, and salads loaded with fresh cucumber, tomato, and mint were my favorites. But what started in 2011 as peaceful anti-government demonstrations has since resulted in one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time. Since 2011, over half of Syria’s pre-war population of 22 million has been forced to flee their homes. More than 12 million people are facing extreme hunger, as those acres of rolling agricultural fields languish abandoned across the country — many littered with dangerous remnants of war. Meanwhile, COVID‑19 cases continue to rise. Yet, among these devastating statistics is one encouraging number that cannot be overlooked: 17 million, the estimated number of Syrians still living in the country, each a powerful source of potential for improving their lives and their communities. Today, the people of Syria guide Mercy Corps’ work there. Most of our Syrian team members, like those they serve, have been displaced from their homes. They are brilliant individuals who have learned to apply the intellectual and practical skills that served them before the war to create solutions that can work in this time of crisis. Doctors, engineers, mothers, and fathers have pivoted to become efficient, expert aid workers. Whatever the challenge, Syrians aren’t waiting around to see what can be done. They are finding paths to possibility every day. I’m excited to share with you my colleague Kieran Barnes’ thoughts on what lies ahead for Mercy Corps in Syria. As the Country Director for our programs there, he’s reinforcing our commitment to this potential in the Syrian people, focusing on three ways Syrians can claim ownership of their survival and recovery, and create more stable communities — from the ground up. For those of you who want to see more of Syria, I’ve collected some of our photographs to remind us of what we’ve seen — and done — over the last ten years working with families and communities in Syria. I hope you enjoy the small photo album below, and know that as a Mercy Corps supporter, you are a part of this ongoing work. With gratitude, Christy Delafield Managing Director, Communications, Mercy Corps
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