Civil war in Syria

Syria Appeal


More people have been forced to flee their homes in Syria than in any other country.

After years of civil war, people continue to face significant challenges. Millions of people need humanitarian assistance. Many live in overcrowded camps where there is little food or clean water.

Coronavirus is also starting to spread. People urgently need basic essentials to protect themselves.

We are supporting people to

  • A humanitarian worker in  agreen Oxfam shirt fills up a water bottle from a tap in a tank for a boy

    Survive today with clean water, food and essentials

    We are improving access to water, toilets and handwashing facilities and distributing hygiene kits containing items like soap and toothbrushes.

  • A long bar of green soap that can be cut into smaller bars is wrapped up to be distributed.

    Prepare for tomorrow by staying clean and healthy

    We are helping people to stay clean and healthy through a nationwide media campaign. We also provide technical training to water authorities’ staff on how to adapt their systems for emergency situations.

  • Adapt for the future with cash transfers and cash for work

    We have been supporting those most in need with cash as well as running cash for work programs. We have also provided training opportunities, helping people gain vital skills to further their position in the job market.

The scale of the crisis

Since the beginning of the crisis in 2011, hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost in Syria. More than half of the population have fled their homes.

More than 13 million people continue to find themselves in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. Homes and schools have been destroyed, neighbourhoods lack clean running water and sanitation, and people lack the means of making a living to feed their families.  

The conflict continues to drive the largest refugee crisis in the world. In Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, we are helping more than 1.5 million people with life-saving clean water, sanitation, and vital food aid, as well as helping refugees make a living and protecting them from violence.

Oxfam is on the ground in Syria providing clean water, cash and hygiene essentials to those who have fled their homes. We cannot continue to do this without the support of people like you.

Islam Mardini/Oxfam

What got me into humanitarian work is the war in my country. It made me want to give back to my community. A woman in the field helps break down walls.”

Sana in Aleppo, Syria

How we spend your money

For every £1 you donate to this emergency appeal, we will allocate 9p of your donation to cover general support and running costs. There is a small chance that we will raise more money than is needed for this appeal. If this happens, we'll spend any additional funds on other Oxfam projects – wherever the need is greatest.