Syria

A Country Devastated by War

Syria remains in the grips of a devastating civil war that has caused immense suffering for its people. Over 6.9 million Syrians have been displaced internally, with 5.6 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries. More than 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 6.5 million children who have faced disruptions to their education and basic services. The conflict has also left over 60% of the population living in poverty, with food insecurity affecting nearly 12 million individuals. Christians in Syria have also faced targeted persecution, with a sharp decline in the Christian population from 1.5 million in 2011 to under 500,000 today due to violence and forced displacement.

Recent Initiatives:

Water System – East Syria Fields (2024 - April 2025): In Phase 2 of the Kobani Agriculture Project, we supported 40 farmers and their families, reaching around 300 Christian individuals. Phase 3, which involved distributing the harvest, benefited approximately 500 more Christians. The land was prepared for spring planting of wheat and barley, and future project phases were expected to create job opportunities for 70 to 100 farmers and their families.
Aid to Support Fleeing Christian Families (March 2025 - April 2025): After extremist groups took control of parts of Syria, over 20,000 Christians were forced to migrate from central Syria to areas in East Syria and Rojava. TBP teams in East Syria provided support to many of these displaced families. In the first project, we distributed around 200 sleeping kits and 200 food packages to approximately 350 families, reaching about 1,200 individuals.
Sewing Project for Widows in Rojava (March 2025 - June 2025): The team launched a sewing training and job support project for around 50 widows who lost their husbands during the war against ISIS, many of whom were either killed or fought in battles. The project provided training in sewing and clothing production, enabling the widows to start small businesses and support their families and children living in Ras Al Ain Camp in Rojava, East Syria.
Rescue of Katerina and Her Daughters (April 2025): Our team carried out an urgent extraction and protection mission for the Christian widow Katerina and her two daughters. After ISIS remnants in East Syria brutally killed her husband while he was returning home, they began harassing Katerina, demanding she convert and surrender one of her daughters. The mother reached out to Father Youhanna, a close TBP partner due to our prior community projects. The TBP team immediately intervened, relocating the family to a safe area away from the Turkish border, where extremists operate freely. The family is now secure near the Syrian-Iraqi border, awaiting a safe opportunity to be relocated to Kurdistan.
Support for Christian Farmers (April 2025): After a prolonged drought and ongoing conflicts in East Syria, the TBP team supported Christian farmers struggling to cultivate their lands. One project focused on five farmers caring for 10 families—about 50 individuals—in Tal Tamer. The farmers planted their fields and sold the harvest, ensuring the continuation of the agricultural cycle for years to come. The project’s first profits were used to support the families and purchase essential nutrients and vitamins to enrich the soil for future planting.
Honey Farm Project (May 2025): We established a honey farm project, where we trained around 35 Christian villagers in Tal Abyad, East Syria, in beekeeping and honey production. The initiative enabled them to produce and sell honey, providing a vital source of income to support their families and survive amid the extremely difficult conditions in Syria.
Support for Damascus Church Attack Victims (June 2025): On June 22, 2025, during evening Divine Liturgy at the Greek Orthodox Mar Elias (St. Elias) Church in the Dweila district of Damascus, a masked attacker entered the sanctuary armed with a firearm and detonated an explosive vest, possibly combined with a grenade. The attack killed approximately 22–25 civilians, including children, and injured over 50, with some estimates as high as 63. Syrian authorities initially blamed ISIS, though the extremist group Saraya Ansar al‑Sunnah later claimed responsibility, naming the bomber as a Syrian national. The TBP team quickly responded, providing support to the affected Christians. Around 50 food packages were distributed to approximately 250 individuals who lost family members or were otherwise impacted by the attack.
Damascus Safe House for Displaced Christians (June 2025 - Present): Our team created a safe house in Damascus that provides care and protection for around 270 displaced Christians from the South, who had faced life-threatening persecution in their homelands. The team supports the families of the guards protecting the safe house within the monastery, distributing daily meals, and supplying diesel for the generators to ensure the facility remains operational.
Seed Production for Christian Farmers (July 2025): The team launched a small seed production business for local Christian farmers in the suburbs of Aamouda. Seeds were produced from healthy parent plants through cross-breeding, then dried and distributed to over 150 families, benefiting around 800 Christians. This sustainable agriculture initiative created ongoing job opportunities and enabled year-round planting of fields with crops such as beans, green beans, lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
Supporting Families of Christian Defenders (July 2025 - Present): We launched a project to support the families of Syria’s Christian defenders—the unsung heroes protecting their communities and churches in one of the world’s most dangerous regions for Christians. The initiative provides for around 400 families, representing approximately 2,000 individuals, addressing their basic needs, particularly food. These families include widows, children, and elderly parents of men who chose to defend their communities rather than flee. Without this support, many face hunger, homelessness, and despair. The project was structured in phases, with the first phase focusing on protecting churches from extremists and keeping ISIS away from Christian villages.
Tree Planting and Land Support for Christian Farmers (July 2025 - Present): After the war in East Syria, new laws put Christian landowners at risk of losing their property if their land was not actively used. To help, TBP supported 20 Christian farmers by planting 350 apple, olive, and almond trees across 4,500 m². These trees will provide sustainable harvests within two to three years, allowing farmers to maintain ownership of their lands. This project not only secures long-term livelihoods for the families but also helps preserve the Christian presence in the region despite the challenges imposed by local authorities.
Syrian Coast Community Kitchen Food Support and Training Projects (August 2025 - Present): The team in the Syrian Coast launched a comprehensive community kitchen initiative to support displaced and impoverished Christians. In Phase 1, the team mobilized the kitchen and organized cooking training sessions for around 15 Christian women, equipping them with skills to start their own small businesses. This initiative created job opportunities for approximately 25 women, supporting 150 family members, while also providing food to over 3,000 Christians living in poverty due to ongoing threats in Syria.
- The project extended to special events, including a feast on Virgin Mary’s Eve, August 15, where the team prepared meals for more than 200 Christians living in shelters in Damascus. These events strengthened trust between TBP and local families and churches, showcasing the team’s dedication to the community.
- Beyond training, the project includes daily meal distributions and food packages for around 500 Christians throughout September. Additionally, the TBP team supports approximately 80 orphans and poor Christian children by providing breakfast during school recess, along with school supplies, uniforms, and study materials to help them continue their education despite the hardships of the Syrian war.

Humanitarian Support for Internally Displaced Christians (November 2025 - Present): The team has prepared a project in the Rojava area to support over 10,000 internally displaced Christians. The initiative combined the distribution of essential supplies—such as fans, heaters, kettles, sleeping kits, and diesel—with food assistance. Meals and goods were provided to more than 25,000 Christians living in camps and safe houses, who had migrated from Aleppo, Hama, and Deir el-Zour after 15 years of civil war in Syria.
Solar System Installation for TBP Safe House in Damascus (August 2025): We implemented a solar system project at one of its safe houses and churches in a high-risk area of Damascus, Syria. The facility hosts around 35 families, approximately 170 Christians, affected by recent terrorist attacks. The installation included four large batteries, one advanced inverter, ten solar panels, an electric switch, and 80 meters of cabling. In addition to electricity, the safe house was supplied with food and diesel to support the families living there.
Saydnaya Shop for Christian Villagers (November 2025 - Present): The team is preparing a shop in the Christian town of Saydnaya, near Damascus, to provide job opportunities for over 15 families and help local residents access goods and supplies at half price. Saydnaya is a symbolic site for Christians in the Middle East, home to one of the oldest monasteries in the world, and remains under threat from extremists targeting Christian heritage. The project aims to support around 1,600 Christians each month, benefiting approximately 20,000 individuals over the course of a year.‍
Sewing Project for Christian Women (November 2025 - Present): The TBP team in North Syria is running a sewing project to train, equip, and support around 35 Christian women each month, many of whom are widows who lost their husbands during the Syrian civil war. The project helps these women start their own sewing businesses and support their families, benefiting approximately 500 Christians monthly. Over the next four months, the program aims to train a total of 140 women, providing assistance to around 2,000 Christians and improving their quality of life amid the challenges of Syrian society.