Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, millions of people have been forced to trade the safety of their home for temporary tents and difficult living conditions in informal camps and settlements all over the country.
ACTED, in partnership with USAID, has been operating in some of these settlements, providing assistance to ensure improved living conditions for the 289,603 camp residents since 2016.
10 years into the conflict, over 6.5 million Syrians remain displaced. A majority of whom live in formal and informal settlements with very limited access to basic services.
Since early 2020, ACTED has been delivering critical assistance to meet multi-sectoral basic needs in 104 informal camps and settlements. Notably as part of our response supported by USAID to support 183,500 displaced individuals during winter time so that they have the means to protect themselves from the cold. It’s the case of Fatima and her family who have been forced to flee their home because of the conflict and now have to face the cold of winter while living in a settlement.
Families living in these settlements face some of the harshest conditions, especially during winter. While made of durable materials, their tents often cannot withstand the heavy rains, harsh winds and freezing temperatures that are common in the winter months in Syria.
As such, families become in urgent need of a way to heat their home and keep them warm when the winter months are approaching. For that reason, ACTED – with the support of USAID – has distributed for the winter seasons in late 2019 and late 2020 essentials for winter, including heaters, fuel and tent insulation kits. These allow to respond to some of the immediate needs of vulnerable families, supporting them in staying warm during the winter season.