Together with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), through a static and mobile approach, INTERSOS is outreaching hard to reach and rural areas
Since the middle of 2021, INTERSOS has been implementing protection interventions in Syria, specifically in the Governorates of Hama, Rural Damascus, and Southern Idleb, thanks to the fund of the Italian Agency for Cooperation (AICS). INTERSOS is operating in partnership with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). Through a static and mobile approach, and opening three protection centres, INTERSOS is outreaching hard to reach and rural areas lacking the most basic services.
In February a winterization intervention has been carried out in Southern Idleb reaching 300 vulnerable households and around 1,500 individuals. 300 winter kits were distributed on 13, 14, 15, and 20 February in the areas of Jarjanaz, and temporary housing for IDPs in Khan Sheikhoun and Um Jalal (southern Idleb).
The story of Ahmad
In this context, we met Ahmad, a 45-years-old man, father of three, with hearing impairment and speech problems. Together with his family, he fled his hometown in 2014 after armed clashes escalated in the Idleb governorate and, in early 2021, returned to his hometown of Jarjanaz to find his home severely damaged. “My situation is very hard”, Ahmad says using sign language, “there are few job opportunities for me, and I must work hard to buy at least some clothes for my children during this cold weather”. Ahmad has two boys, aged 18 and 15 respectively, and a 10-years-old girl. The older boy, Ali, dropped out of school to help the family earn a living. We met with Ahmad’s family during the distribution of winter essentials kits in the town of Jerjanz, where he benefited from the distribution, which enabled winter clothes to be distributed to 300 returnee families in the southern rural areas of Idleb.
Under the same action, INTERSOS is in the final stages to activate four mobile medical teams which will be deployed across Hama, Rural Damascus, and Idleb integrating the protection intervention while providing life-saving primary health care services. Furthermore, recreational activities were conducted within some schools in the Matalleh and Kisweh areas.
During the recreational activities addressed to women in the Mattaleh community, awareness-raising sessions on topics such as stress management, child violence, and early marriage were conducted. The activities promoted and encouraged active participation and sharing of difficult experiences for them. On International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day celebrations, the INTERSOS team asked them to write a letter of thanks to themselves, including messages of encouragement and reminding them of their strength and generosity.