Mennonite Central Committee Canada (MCCC) and the Forum for Development, Culture and Dialogue are partnering on a food assistance project in Jaramana, Syria.
Syria faces a catastrophic humanitarian crisis with 16.5 million people requiring assistance. Ongoing conflict and a surge in sectarian violence—particularly in rural Damascus and the northeast—continue to drive displacement and threaten minority communities.
Economic and agricultural systems have collapsed. Inflation is soaring, with the minimum wage covering only 16% of basic food costs. Simultaneously, drought and war have left only 50% of farmland cultivated, resulting in 9.1 million food-insecure Syrians. Malnutrition rates are rising, forcing families into desperate coping strategies like reducing meals and high-risk labor. This crisis is compounded by a drastic reduction in international support. The WFP cut aid by nearly 80% in 2024 due to funding gaps, and current appeals face a $6 billion shortfall.
Socially, the impact is severe for women and children. 8.5 million people require services for gender-based violence, which is rampant in overcrowded shelters. Women face systemic barriers to food access and mobility, while child labor has become a critical survival mechanism for many families.
The project will provide a single, in-kind food transfer of 43.4 kg / household comprised of 8 kg of long grain rice, 8 kg of white sugar, 2 kg of split lentils, 1 kg of tomato paste and 5.8 litres of sunflower oil, among other items. The project aims to reach 10,000 participants in 2,000 households.