Syria Relief & Development 2015 Annual Report

BUILDING NEW PATHS TO A BETTER TOMORROW

INSIDE THIS ANNUAL REPORT 03 Letter from the President 04 06 About Us/Our Programs 06 08 Weaving the Fabric of Syria’s Future: Women 11 A Better Tomorrow for Syria’s Children 14 Re-establishing Homes and Communities 16 Building a Future for Syrian Health Care 19 Food Care to Ensure a Better Future 20 Financial Activities

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Muneeza Tahir DESIGN: Rebekah Davis CONTRIBUTORS: Amany Qaddour, Dena Elian, Salman Husain, SRD Regional and Field Staff

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends, Last year was a very difficult one for the crisis in Syria; by far the worst year of conflict. Attacks intensified on civilian institutions, particularly on health care facilities and medical workers. Our own regional hospitals and clinics were hit by missiles with one attack resulting in the death of a medical staff member. There were so many times during the year when we were just devastated by the weight of the war and its toll on the people. And here in the United States we felt the reverberations of the conflict as our own country and other western nations determined the fates of countless refugees seeking new homes. It was a challenging year. But together, we pushed ahead. And as a result, we reached more people and distributed more aid than ever before.

And that is to be celebrated with hope.

We’re building new paths to a better tomorrow, coming together with beneficiaries, staff members and you to build a better future for Syrian children.

They’re going through so much right now, the children of Syria. The healing process will be most challenging for those who have known little other than conflict or those who may once have had carefree childhoods now taken away from them. We always seek to implement programs and projects that support a better future for Syria: psychosocial support, education, prenatal, natal and postnatal care for mothers, protection services for women and children, pediatric primary health care, dialysis and rehabilitative therapy and much more.

Now that 2016 is in full swing, we’re turning our attention to the need for post-secondary education in Syria. Young adults have been severely affected by the lack of education available since the start of the conflict. The country’s future is at a standstill with a generation of youth unable to move forward in learning and becoming. That’s why we’ve taken steps to fund a university so post-secondary students can continue their studies in areas such as pharmacology, medicine, engineering and more.

Syria is full of young men and women who want to pursue higher education to create better lives for themselves, their families and their communities.

We hope to be a catalyst for their future success.

Thank you for your continued support throughout the years. We are hopeful that the conflict will soon come to an end and we can continue to build a better future for Syria, unhindered and hand-in-hand with its people. We could not have done any of this without your support. Let’s continue to walk forward together for a better world.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jihad Qaddour President, Syria Relief & Development

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BUILDING NEW PATHS TO A BETTER TOMOR

A RROW

ABOUT US / OUR PROGRAMS ll of the families we provide humanitarian aid to are examples of Syrian resilience, something our staff has been fortunate to witness on a regular basis. Through our programs, we work with these families and many others like them to come together and build new paths to a better tomorrow for Syria. We don’t just provide families with humanitarian aid but with long-term hope and encouragement that through their own contributions toward Syria’s future, it will be a bright one. No matter how bleak the crisis may get at times, we encourage beneficiaries to look forward to the day when there will be no hindrances to the rebuilding process and encourage each individual to his/her part to create a better future now.

About Us Syria Relief and Development (SRD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing humanitarian aid to Syrians affected by violence, hunger, poverty, injury and displacement. SRD is based in the United States with offices in Amman, Jordan and Gaziantep, Turkey.

SRD works with numerous international humanitarian organizations as well as regional partners in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon and local relief and humanitarian organizations inside of Syria.

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Our Mission To provide crisis humanitarian relief and plant the seeds of sustainable development for the people of Syria.

Our Vision To maintain humanitarian relief and mobilize resources to develop a comprehensive agenda for sustainable development in Syria.

Programs

Advocacy SRD advocates for the well-being of Syrians in need and their dire plight by calling for and striving to foster implementation of: 1. Medical services for vulnerable communities 2. Improved humanitarian access 3. Investment in Syrian-led solutions 4. Support for Syria’s neighbors 5. Initiatives to address Syria’s education vacuum

EDUCATION • Summer Camp for Refugee Children • Higher Education (coming soon!)

HEALTH • Regional Hospitals • Pediatric Primary Health and Psychosocial Support Centers • Primary & Reproductive Health Polyclinics • Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinics • Medical Supplies for Hospitals & Clinics SHELTER & PROTECTION • Shelter Rehabilitation & Shelter Kits • Protection Education FOOD & NON-FOOD ITEMS • Food Baskets/Care Packages • Winterization Kits

Idleb Aleppo

Where We Work

Hama

Winter Care Packages

Shelter & Protection

Standard Care Packages

Primary & Reproductive Health Polyclincs

Pediatric Primary Healthcare Centers

Education

SRD Regional Hospitals

Deir Alzor

Homs Damascus Daraa

Amman, Jordan

The Man Who Had Everything I’m a project manager with SRD’s Winter Shelter and Protection program that in 2015 provided 873 households with winter protection items such as warm clothing and blankets and shelter reinforcement and rehabilitation.

Among the beneficiaries were families who lived in an internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp. One family in particular stuck out to me. It was an IDP family of 8 people: a 38 year-old father, Ibrahim, and his children who were all under the age of 15. The family was very poor and didn’t have very much. They were living in a shelter that was not fit for habitation so they left it. They were homeless and Ibrahim was taking care of a disabled child who was not one of his own children. The family’s situation stayed with me long after I delivered a winter care package to the family. I was amazed by this man who was

doing so much good for

a disabled child who was not his own and the man himself was also in need.”

—Alaa, Project Manager

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WEAVING THE FABRIC OF SYRIA’S FUTURE: WOMEN

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© UNHCR/Andrew McConnell

Syrian women have been severely affected by the country’s conflict. More than 75% of Syrian refugees are women and children. Many more Syrian households are now led by women than ever before. In Lebanon and other countries, Syrian refugee women are seeking gainful employment to support their families and a large percentage are reporting cases of sexual harassment and sexual human rights violations including enslavement, child marriage, sexual assault rape (including many instances of gang rapes) and more. The situation for Syrian women is bleak and the traumas they face run deep.

omen are the central fabric to Syrian society. Ibn Qayyim, an Islamic theologian who was born in Damascus once said that women are half of society and they give birth to the other half of society, so in essence they are the entire society. At SRD we recognize the central role women play in Syrian society and we seek out programs and projects that help and empower women.

Reproductive Health Services Our reproductive health services for women don’t just include check-ups and maternity care but also have a strong family planning component that provides health education and services, including contraceptives, to women. Our family planning project also distributes pamphlets and brochures on proper reproductive care. Our Primary and Reproductive Health Polyclinics provide primary, prenatal, natal and postnatal care for women to ensure they re-

ceive proper reproductive care and proper maternity care if pregnant. Postnatal care also includes caring for the newborn baby.

Shelter and Protection Services Through our Winter Shelter and Protection Program, women-led households are at the forefront of receiving home repairs and improvements that will reinforce their homes and shelters as well as 2015: Building New Paths to a Better Tomorrow | 9

A woman carries a new mattress provided to her by SRD’s Winter Care campaign. Mattresses like this are provided for Syrian refugees who would otherwise sleep on frozen ground during the cold winters.

87,913

women were helped by SRD programs in 2015

protect them from the brutal winter cold. As part of the program, we also provide community education on women’s and children’s rights and protection by distributing pamphlets and holding workshops.

Health Care, Food and Beyond Our regional hospitals provide women with a variety of primary and advanced health services. At these hospitals, acute and chronic conditions are diagnosed and treated. Our rehabilitation and physical therapy clinic also provides treatment for acute or chronic conditions. Our food baskets, Ramadan iftars, Udhiyah Qurbani meat distributions and non-food item aid distributions help Syrian women get the care they need to help nourish their bodies as well as their minds.

31,546

13,298

15,045

24,461

2,146

1,417

Primary & Reproductive Health Polyclinics

Family Planning Services

Food Care

Regional Hospitals

Contraceptive Services

Shelter, Protection and Non-Food Items

A Mother’s Belief In 2015, I met a family of 5 people from the village of Maaret Horma, Idleb. The household was

headed by a mother who had her 4 children with her; all of the children were under age 15.

The family was poor and had tragically lost their male head-of-household as a result of an attack on their house while they slept. The mother suffered multiple burns over her body, was suddenly the family’s main breadwinner and the family lost the majority of its home, relocating to the basement that was still intact.

We provided the family with a winter care package that included lighting and cooking supplies. What stayed with me about this family was the mother’s strong hope for a better tomorrow. She continued to envision

a beautiful future for her children.

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–Heba, Trainer

A BETTER TOMORROW FOR SYRIA’S CHILDREN In April 2015, we held an event in Amman, Jordan for refugee children called ‫ بكرا أحىل‬, Tomorrow Will be More Beautiful. The event was full of entertaining activities including a magic show, acrobatic and puppet shows, games, face painting, singing, food and gifts. Nearly 200 children attended and spent the day eating, laughing and relishing in childhood pleasures.

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t’s always been SRD’s hope that Syrian children will very quickly be introduced to semblances of what childhood should be filled with—love, safety, family, learning, laughter and joy. As a result, children have been a primary focus of healing for our programs.

Psychosocial Support Because of their tender ages and ongoing development, children are very affected by their surroundings. Amid the conflict, many children are struggling to cope with war, loss, grief, fear, anxiety and all of the intense emotions they may be feeling. In order to help children better cope with their emotions, we’ve developed a psychosocial support program that not only provides children with one-on-one counseling but also places children in safe environments with other children and engages them in activities that encourage them to express themselves.

Education The conflict has driven more than 4 million Syrian

children out of school. Refugee children don’t fare better than children inside Syria as host countries don’t have education systems to accommodate the vast number of refugees seeking shelter inside their borders. In 2015, we implemented an informal education program in the form of a summer camp for refugee children in Amman, Jordan.

More than 100 children spent 4 hours everyday taking fun classes in English, Arabic, Math, Physical Education, Music and Arts and Crafts. A gallery full of the children’s artwork was created by SRD staff members. The summer camp boasted a children’s chorus and a soccer team in addition to exposing the children to learning experiences outside the camp, such as trips to museums.

Pediatric Health Care A critical component to caring for children in Syria is providing them with access to basic necessities such as primary health care. Our Pediatric Primary Health Care Centers in Syria provide children with

Zaid (pictured right) is an 11 year-old child in fifth grade who was terrified when his family’s house was bombed one day during a family gathering. His mom was injured and taken to the ICU. Zaid was scared of losing his mom and the entire experience had a significant psychological impact on him as he started suffering from nightmares and being terrified of loud noises. At SRD’s psychosocial support center, Zaid learned relaxation and stress-relieving techniques. With the support of his family, Zaid is better now and living a happier and healthier life.

The Family with Nothing but Each Other I met a family that was originally from Homs. There were 9 people in the family, a 72 year old woman and her 8 grandchildren whom she was raising alone after the death of her sons, she herself a widow. We distributed Winter Care Packages with hygiene kits, mattresses and blankets for the family. The woman had lost not only her husband and sons, but also her home in Homs. She now lived with her grandchildren in a shelter with a plastic roof. None of them were working so the family had no source of income or any medical or financial support. I was floored by this family’s situation because it was the first time I had met anyone in such dire straits. This

war had cost them so much of their lives.

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—Mohammad, Aid Distributor

pediatric care and also enact our psychosocial support program. Children receive care from annual check-ups to more advanced care as well as rehabilitation and physical therapy.

5 year-old Abdelhai (pictured right), a disabled Syrian child, was suffering from intestinal infections and dehydration when he arrived at our pediatric clinic in Daraa where he was treated and his health improved significantly.

Food, Clothing and More Children’s growing bodies demand basic necessities more than adults. Our focus on distributing food, clothing and other non-food items is always on orphan families and then impoverished families with children. Every winter season, we distribute winter clothing to children as part of our Winter Care Package program distributions. And during Ramadan, Qurbani and throughout the year, we distribute food baskets and iftar meals to provide relief and nourishment for children and their families.

192,333

children were helped by SRD programs in 2015

31,098

90,977

Regional Hospitals

Pediatric Primary Health & Psychosocial Support Centers

62,867

4,292

2,999

100

Primary & Reproductive Health Polyclinics

Shelter, Protection and Non-Food Items

Food Care

Education

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RE-ESTABLISHING HOMES AND COMMUNITIES 14 | SyriaReliefandDevelopment.org

n 2015, we carried out a Shelter, Non-Food Items and Protection Program that served 873 households in Northern Syria. The damage sustained by many homes as a result of attacks was substantial. As a result of the destruction, many families are living in unsafe spaces, makeshift shelters and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. We tackled areas with more substantial destruction to choose as a target for this program.

Some of the activities we engaged in included: • Converting dirt floors to concrete or cement • Plumbing repair to restore damaged latrines • Installation of electrical wiring and solar panels • Replacement of damaged or destroyed doors and the addition of locks • Replacement of broken windows • Repair of damaged or destroyed walls • Repair or replacement of damaged ceilings Solar panels were installed to address the lack of access to electricity and provide a long-term solution. In addition, the program also created 50 jobs for local workers including civil, architectural and electrical engineers, carpenters, construction workers, plumbers and electricians.

Most importantly, the program integrated physical and psychological protection awareness and education as a major priority. This portion focused on physical safety and the emotional and psychological needs of victims of conflict. SRD staff members carried out protection awareness trainings to program beneficiary families as well as communities at large. Staff members emphasized the needs for

gender equality, shared decision-making between men and women, early marriage prevention, family planning decisions and respect for oneself and others. Through the trainings, SRD hopes at healing a variety of issues of concern in Syria, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), child marriage, domestic violence and more.

5,722

Syrians were provided with shelter and protection in 2015

463

142 Households

Female-Led

Households repaired

1,460

Winter and Non-Food Item Kits Distributed

305

Shelter Kits Provided

2,999

152 Repaired

IDP Shelters

150

Solar Panels Installed

2,999

Shelter, Protection and Non-Food Items Received Protection Awareness and Education

Easing Their Burdens While we were rehabilitating homes in Idleb and Aleppo, I met a family of 5 people, a 55 year-old father, his wife and 3 children. During an attack on their city, the father lost his first wife, who was mother to his children, and one of his daughters. After all of this occurred, the father was imprisoned and his 14 year-old son became the head-of-household and shouldered the responsibility of caring for his 2 remaining younger siblings, one of whom was disabled. Their father was later released and joined his remaining family. They were in a terrible financial situation and we were

happy to help repair their home for the winter.

—Saad, Trainer

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BUILDING A FUTURE FOR SYRIAN HEALTH CARE

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he crisis in Syria has created two major issues that have made providing health care more difficult: a large void of health care workers and facilities through mass fleeing, incarceration and killing of health care workers and the decimation of medical facilities; and an increased need for health care as a result of aerial bombardment, ground attacks and other incidents that have caused injuries on a large scale.

One of the biggest issues we incurred in 2015 was the continual bombardment and attacks on medical facilities and health care workers. According to Physicians for Human Rights, a total of 726 medical personnel have been killed in Syria and 358 medical facilities have been attacked. In 2015, our own medical facilities in Syria were targeted and 1 staff member was killed. The attacks on medical facilities, health workers and civilians are all against international laws and violate the most basic human rights of people to unfettered access to humanitarian aid that includes health care. Many brave physicians, nurses and medical professionals have stayed in the country to do what they can to help. Those are the people who run our hospitals, clinics and medical centers and the staff members who inspire us daily.

A New Lease on Life: Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Services When urgent health care is available to stabilize and treat a patient’s injuries, a lack of long-term rehabilitative and therapeutic care prevents many injured from truly healing. In 2014, we established 2 Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Centers in Idleb and Daraa to address the needs of those who were temporarily or permanently disabled either from chronic conditions or as a result of conflict-related injuries. The centers also provide dialysis treatment for patients who need it.

24,079

Syrians received physical therapy, rehabilitation and dialysis treatment

4 year-old Fadhel was suffering from asthma and suffocation episodes as a result of wood-burning heaters amid a shortage in heating fuel.

He was unresponsive when rushed to SRD’s clinic in Daraa where he received life-saving treatment.

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Left: 4 month-old Mohammad was suffering from severe diarrhea, vomiting and overall fatigue when his family brought him to an SRD clinic in Daraa where he was treated and recovered.

83,277

Syrians provided with basic/ primary and advanced medical care through our regional hospitals

39,805 Aleppo Hospital

7467

Idleb Hospital

36,005 Daraa Hospital

2977 chronic

Trauma,

and other disease cases treated

3777

Conflictrelated injuries

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Since our inception in 2012, SRD has devoted a lot of time and resources into ensuring quality health care for sick, injured and disabled Syrians. We saw from the beginning that in an intense conflict that is damaging so much infrastructure and hurting lives, the need for emergency and long-term health care would be essential to ensuring a future for Syria.

You read earlier about our health care programs for women and children that provide pediatric health, psychosocial support and primary and reproductive care. But we’re also well aware that Syria’s general population is equally vulnerable to health care needs and often neglects health issues due to the inaccess or unaffordability of care.

Treating the general population, free of charge, is the goal of our regional hospitals and clinics, providing basic/primary and advanced medical care for those who need it. Our hospitals have been a major source of care and relief for people in and around the regions they’re located in.

FOOD CARE TO ENSURE A STRONGER FUTURE btaining a steady supply of nutritious food doesn’t come easy for Syrians families.

Five years of conflict have increased food prices throughout the country and airstrikes have wreaked havoc on farmland, crops and livestock.

Syrian families seek food through humanitarian support, pooling resources with extended families or neighbors in order to buy what food they can and many times just go without it. Since 2012, food care has been an essential part of our relief aid and will continue to be. Whether it’s through food banks for refugee families, Ramadan iftars for children and their families in Syria, Qurbani meat distributions during Eid al-Adha or other occasions, our staff members in Syria and Jordan enjoy helping feed those in need.

7905

Syrians were provided with food in 2015

1500

Ramadan Iftars (Syria)

2645

Qurbani Meat (Syria)

1694

Food Bank (Jordan)

192

329

Ramadan Iftars (Jordan)

450

Qurbani meat (Jordan)

1095

Coupon distribution for food (Jordan)

Festivities for Refugee Families (Jordan)

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FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Fiscal Year 2015

Support & Revenue Gift in Kind Contributions 5,375,146

Pharmaceuticals, Medical Supplies, and Equipment

Shelter, Non-Food Items (NFI)

211,745

Services

168,514

Individual Contributions Grants

TOTAL SUPPORT & REVENUE

1,161,882 1,793,145 $ 8,710,433

Expenses Program Services Health

Regional Hospitals

Pediatric Primary Health Care & Psychosocial Centers

Primary and Reproductive Health Programs

5,642,719 71,524 385,115

Shelter/NFI 563,387 Food Security & Livelihoods

Food Distributions

21,881

Zakat 124,671

Udhiyah/Qurbani 19,671

Ramadan 22,204

Protection 48,896 Total Program Services

6,900,382

Supporting Services Administrative

238,235

Fundraising 162,793 Other Expenses Total Supporting Services

TOTAL EXPENSES

NET ASSETS 20 | SyriaReliefandDevelopment.org

147,641 548,669

$ 7,449,051

$ 1,261,382

Fiscal Responsibility Programs

92.63% Programs

3.20% Administrative

2.19% Fundraising

1.98% Other Expenses

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