In Syria, 15.6 million people – nearly 60% of the population – need humanitarian assistance. With support from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Estonian Refugee Council is supporting 400 vulnerable families in the Babella area to help them meet their basic needs and cope with the consequences of a crisis that has lasted for years.
The Babella area is among the parts of Syria with the greatest humanitarian needs, with an estimated 365,000 people requiring assistance. Many internally displaced people live in Babella, and increasing numbers of people are returning to the area and need support to rebuild their lives.
“People returning home does not mean that Syria’s humanitarian crisis is over. Many are returning to places where homes have been destroyed, essential services are unreliable and income-generating opportunities are scarce. More than seven million people in Syria are facing severe food shortages. Cash assistance allows families to decide for themselves whether their most urgent needs are food, medicine or housing costs,” said Eero Janson, Director of the Estonian Refugee Council.
With support from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Estonian Refugee Council is providing cash assistance of 19,500 new Syrian pounds, equivalent to approximately €140 per family. The support is primarily intended for families who have recently returned to their home areas, have no regular income and have limited means of supporting themselves. Particular attention is given to female-headed households, caregivers of orphaned children, and families with young children or older people, people with disabilities or people living with chronic illnesses. Cash assistance will be distributed from October to December.
The Estonian Refugee Council has been supporting Syrian refugees across the region since 2018, helping people displaced by the civil war in Syria to achieve long-term self-reliance in Jordan and Lebanon. In 2025, the organisation opened an office in Syria and provided humanitarian assistance in the Latakia area to help local families cope with the aftermath of extensive wildfires. The Estonian Refugee Council’s activities in Syria are supported by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.