A lifeline in hard times…
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to be felt well beyond short-term health indicators. With markets closed and the economy at a standstill, the pandemic threatens to impose a devastating social and economic toll over the months and years to come.
Nine years of conflict in Syria have severely diminished the financial and material resources of ordinary Syrians. With up to 83 per cent of the population living below the poverty line, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to have deep socio-economic effects on the people of Syria, especially on the most vulnerable populations.
Taking all the necessary precautions, UNDP Syria continues its support to the most vulnerable to help boost their food security and promote sustainable agricultural livelihoods.
In the rural areas of Deir_ezZur, UNDP Syria distributed 450 sheep to 210 families in March 2020 as productive assets. The families are either women-headed households or households supporting a person with disabilities.
Here’s what some of them had to say:
“Soon I can sell some of their milk and get you some new clothes” a beaming Hussein promised his youngest son Muhamad. With 3 disabled children, Hussein struggles to support his family of 12.
“It seems like God has answered my prayers!” said Furat, 45 who supports 7 children including an 11 year-old disabled son.
“I’m hoping with this, my son will be able to go back to school and pursue his education and catch up with his friends” said Amira, 39, who is raising 4 children alone after she lost her husband in the war. To her right is her oldest son Omar, 14. Omar had to leave school to help his mother by working at the local market, running errands.
“Hopefully this will take some of the financial pressure I face everyday” said Dirar, 45, who came with his wife, Aisha, 36. Selling vegetables in the local market, Dirar is struggling to provide for his family of 7, including his 18 year-old disabled daughter.
UNDP Syria will continue to scale up its early recovery interventions to reach areas where people are most affected and in need of help.
UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build communities that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that empowers lives.
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Written by Asma’ Nashawati, Communications Associate, UNDP Syria
