Syria
Mary’s Meals serves meals to more than 4,000 children every school day in Syria
Published onLife in Syria
Syria is currently ranked 150 out of 191 countries and territories in the Human Development Index (HDI). It is located in the Middle East and is bordered by Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel.
Syria has been plagued by civil war since March 2011 and is one of the poorest countries in the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of people have died because of the conflict. Millions of civilians are displaced living far from their families and livelihoods.
Years of war, insufficient agricultural production and rising food prices have exacerbated the country’s high food insecurity. There are 10.6 million people (just over half the population) without enough food to eat. More than a quarter (27.9%) of Syria’s children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition.
The conflict has had a devastating impact on education in Syria. Around 2 million children are currently out of school.
Mary's Meals in Syria
Mary’s Meals has been serving school meals in Syria since 2017 to children whose young lives have been scarred by unimaginable trauma.
Together with our partner organisation, Dorcas, we run a programme that reaches more than 4,000 children in 17 places of education in the city of Aleppo and one in Hanano District. A dedicated team of volunteers prepares our meals in one school that has reliable access to water and electricity. The food is then delivered to the other locations.
In February 2023, devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria killed and injured thousands of people and left millions without homes.
With many schools in Aleppo being used as shelters for displaced people, we quickly began working with our trusted local school feeding partner, Dorcas, to offer vital emergency meals to thousands of children and vulnerable adults affected by the earthquakes. Thanks to a generous response to our Crisis in Syria appeal and the dedication and hard work of our partner organisation and its volunteers, we were able to start offering these meals quickly and consistently in the days following the earthquakes.
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- When did we start working in Syria?
We have been serving school meals in Syria since 2017
- How many children do we reach in Syria?
Mary’s Meals serves meals to more than 4,000 children every school day in Syria
- What meal do we provide?
A typical meal served to children is a sandwich wrap and fresh fruit.
- Where are we based/where do we operate?
Our meals are delivered to children living in the city of Aleppo and the Hanano District.
- What is the capital of Syria?
The capital city of Syria is Damascus.
- What is the population of Syria?
The population of Syria is 18,364,408.
- What currency is used in Syria?
The Syrian Pound (SYP).
