Photo Essay by Dania Kareh – Oxfam in Syria media and communication officer
Thirteen years since the beginning of the devastating crisis, Syrian’s have been forced into myriad ways to cope to survive. With no end in sight to the conflict, and facing an uncertain future, they are caught in limbo as Syria becomes another of the middle east’s forgotten wars, with the attention and support of the international community steadily diminishing.
To live, Syrians have found ways to carve out their own paths towards recovery, some harmful and others resourceful. From repurposing old clothes and plastic bottles to fuel their heaters, to selling subsidized bread, or buying cheaper, dry, bread instead of fresh, or being forced to marrying off young daughters to reduce financial strain on families.
Amer from Aleppo with his wife. Photo credit: Islam Mardini/ Oxfam.
Syria's economy faces a severe crisis, with the currency plummeting and inflation skyrocketing. The average monthly income is around $20, leaving families struggling to afford even the most basic staple: bread.
Amer, 71, a skilled carpenter, faced enormous loss when his apartment was rendered uninhabitable by the devastating earthquake in February 2023. The earthquake was not the first time Amer had experienced loss, during the conflict his carpentry shop of forty years was also destroyed.
“Fruit on the table has become a luxury we can’t afford all time. There are days without even bread to eat. My small carpentry shop, once my livelihood, was lost in the crisis, leaving me reliant on handouts for survival
Manal, 35, a mother from Rural Damascus. Photo credit: Dania Kareh/ Oxfam.
A Transfortmative Crisis
Manal, 35, lost her home and everything she owned during the conflict and had to flee with her family to another city, living in uncertainty and fear. When she returned home to her neighborhood, her house was barely standing. She and her family worked for almost four years to try and recover what they had lost, but they still had more to do.
“Once, I was reliant on my husband for even the smallest of purchases, but conflict and necessity have reshaped me. They took a lot from me, but I’ve emerged stronger and opened a shop that has bolstered our finances and granted me a newfound sense of purpose.”
The crisis in Syria saw many women become the main breadwinners in their families- an unfamiliar role to them before the crisis - as many men were killed, left the country, or injured during the conflict and women stepped into non-traditional gender roles. However, some women have not been able to start anew due to the absence of opportunities and resources. Today, out of 16.7 million Syrians requiring humanitarian aid, nine million are women and girls.
Amal, 48, a mother from Aleppo. Photo credit: Islam Mardini/ Oxfam.
Amal, 48, managed to get by during the crisis on her husband's earnings, but now, with the economy in freefall and living costs soaring, a single income cannot cover even basic necessities. “A sewing machine and training I received through the support of Oxfam, made me self-sufficient. While I was once haunted by the worry of an empty table and lack of food, I can now look forward to a sturdier future, assured of what I can provide for my family.”
Abdullah, 62,motorcycle mechanic from rural AleppoPhoto credit: Islam Mardini/ Oxfam.
IT IS A RELENTLESS CRISIS
The harsh realities in Syria can characterized by various challenges. Mental, physical, financial, and social strains are part of the fabric of everyday life. These have taken a heavy toll on families across the country. People trying to support their families have faced tough times navigating instabilities and uncertainties. Many people have been forced to rely on humanitarian aid after losing their source of income, while others have found ways to provide for their families, despite having lost everything.
Abdullah, 62, a motorcycle mechanic from rural Aleppo, says “soaring fuel prices are severely affecting my repair business. Fewer motorcycles mean less demand for repairs, and less money for me to earn. I hope for more affordable fuel so that people can keep using their motorcycles and coming to me for repairs. Otherwise, my family of eleven will have nothing to put in their stomach.” Abdullah’s livelihood is tied to fluctuating fuel prices, which have escalated amidst the economic crisis, diminishing his earnings, and exacerbating his debts over recent years.
Photo credit: Islam Mardini/ Oxfam.
Issa, 55, a farmer from Aleppo said. "As a farmworker, I'm constantly surrounded by water, yet I'm forced to purchase it. The weekly supply from the main water network is not enough for my large family, forcing us to buy additional water—up to four truckloads a month, each delivering 1,000 liters costing 15,000 Syrian Pounds for each. Nearly a third of my earnings are spent on purchasing water."
Layla, 62, a farmer from Rural Damascus. Photo credit: Dania Kareh/ Oxfam.
IT IS A DEPRIVING CRISIS.
Layla, a farmer from Rural Damascus and mother of two has seen a harsh drought's devastating impact on her village's agriculture and a crumbling economy. Scarce water coupled with costly energy, a fallout of the conflict, has hit farming hard, threatening their livelihood and stability.
“The conflict claimed four of my six children. They were my world, and their loss left me aimless and in despair. Forced to leave my home for months due to clashes in my town, I returned to find all my belongings stolen. At my age, starting over was a daunting prospect. Yet, it’s the two children I still have that fuel my determination. They inspire me to rise every day, tend to our farm, and take care of our crops.”
Ibraheem, 60, a farmer from Rural Damascus. Photo credit: Alaa Ghorrah/ Oxfam.
Ibrahem, 60, was once a landowner. However, since the onset of the country's crisis his once fertile land no longer yields the earnings it once did.
"Due to the persistent drought and soaring fuel costs, I had to sell my agricultural equipment and sheep. Now, I earn my living by performing farmwork on my neighbors' land."
The crisis forces tough choices, from abandoning farmlands to finding ways to survive. For some farmers, lack of electricity is one of the push factors that forced them to make the choice to give up family farmlands due to their inability to irrigate them. Power shortages, lack of affordable fuel, and destruction have severely compromised the agricultural infrastructure and activity in country. However, some farmers have been able to embrace challenges and overcome the impacts of conflict and economic struggles by finding new ways to farm, despite all the difficulties.
Hiam, 50, a mother of two from Aleppo. Photo credit: Islam Mardini/ Oxfam.
Hiam, 50, a widow and mother, provides for her family's through farm work. Confronted with limited skills and soaring prices due to the economic crisis, she sometimes must turn to humanitarian aid to sustain her young children. “I lost my husband in the conflict a few years ago, I work the land to support my two children. Despite vision loss from a shrapnel injury, I remain the family's sole provider. My determination is unwavering, and I give my sons the hope they'll escape the cycle of hardship.”