Updates from the field
Hope on Syria's Coast
Emergency relief helped 875 families survive violence, displacement, and loss
April 21, 2026 | by McKenzie Hood
In March 2025, coordinated attacks by HTS and affiliated groups across Syria’s coastal plains triggered mass killings, displacement, and the collapse of daily life. Communities in Banias, Jableh, Qerdaha, and Safita fled under fire, many escaping to Latakia with nothing.
When families returned, they found homes looted, livelihoods destroyed, and little access to food, medicine, or income.
At the height of that crisis, Shai Fund’s local partners stepped in when few others could to serve both Christians and Alawites in their neighborhoods.
Critical Relief When It Mattered Most
Between March and July 2025, 875 families — 2,648 people — received emergency support that helped them survive, stabilize, and remain in their communities.
Support focused on areas of urgent need: medicine, food, and hygiene.
Two rounds of medicine were delivered in 2025 — reaching 213 individuals (130 Christians and 83 Alawites) with chronic or acute conditions. Each round provided two months of treatment, ensuring four months of uninterrupted access to essential medicines. The distribution was implemented through church and community networks.
In July 2025, families in Latakia, Jableh, and Tartous received aid packages. Each package contained essential food and hygiene items, including rice, bulgur, lentils, oil, pasta, chickpeas, tahini, cheese, mortadella, beans, tomato paste, sugar, margarine, black tea, shampoo, soap, detergent, toothpaste, and toothbrush.
Solidarity Brings Hope
N* is a devoted wife and mother from Latakia. Her husband supports our family through his summer clothing business and yet they were still impacted by fall of the Assad regime and the ongoing sectarian violence. She wrote:
"Fear has emptied the streets and shops, people now buy only absolute necessities. Therefore, my husband’s sales have dropped, leaving us struggling to meet our children's educational needs and daily expenses."
She continued, "Our lives have become restricted, limited to essential activities under severe restrictions that leave our city silent and empty. While there have been small signs of improvement, our children still live in constant fear, and the sense of safety and stability that every family should have has been lost as well."
But not all hope is lost. N* concluded, "As Christians living in Syria, we hold tightly to our faith. We pray for safer days ahead when we can properly provide for our children and live without this uncertainty. The aid from you came when we needed it most. Your support extends beyond food items - it reminds us that we are not alone in these difficult times.”
The Power of Local Churches
Aid was delivered through trusted Christian networks, including Maronite, Orthodox, and Evangelical communities, who worked together to serve families in need. Support also reached Alawite neighbors affected by the violence.
Families across Syria’s coastal region still face shortages of food, medicine, and basic supplies. Local church partners remain ready to respond.
Because of your support, vulnerable families were able to stay in their communities and hold on to hope.
