Program Updates

In 2019, Adnan* and his family embarked on a remarkable journey by opening a bakery in Raqqa city, located in northeast Syria. Their establishment quickly gained popularity among the locals, becoming a neighborhood favorite renowned for its delectable pastries, sweets, and an array of bread varieties. The bakery's success was attributed to its commitment to sourcing high-quality ingredients locally and providing valuable employment opportunities to members of its community.

The success of this small, woman-run start-up is creating jobs and supporting the region’s independence from imports while helping meet local demand for food products. Hiring women is also helping to improve the lives of many Syrians impacted by the war.

Across Syria, USAID promotes women’s empowerment. In honor of Women’s History Month, USAID is spotlighting Syrian women who have shown remarkable strength and courage, striving for a better life, and an inclusive community.

On Monday, February 20th, USAID welcomed home the USAID Urban Search and Rescue teams from Fairfax and Los Angeles County Fire Departments after 11 days of searching for survivors in Türkiye in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Millions of children have had their education disrupted by the crisis in Syria. Raghad is a 14-year-old girl from near Homs, Syria, who has found safety - and friendship - in one of the thousands of Jordanian classrooms that serves as a refuge for Syrian students, helping them recover their childhood and ultimately, begin again.

Ghalib*, a nurse at Qamishli City’s Jian COVID-19 hospital, had one major fear for treating her patients—running out of oxygen supplies. With COVID-19 rapidly spreading across northeast Syria over this past year, the number of patients arriving in need of oxygen was growing, and the hospital’s supply was quickly being depleted. 

Eleven years of bitter conflict, coupled with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and dire economic conditions, have made employment opportunities in northeast Syria few and far between. This reality is magnified for Syrians with disabilities who are often marginalized from the rest of the population when seeking reliable employment.

After years of watching conflict and destruction steal hope from their neighbors, a group of dedicated young Syrians established a local community-based organization (CBO) operating in the city of Tabqa, in Raqqa governorate. The organization is dedicated to building upon the available human capital of the city by improving youth access to high demand skills that will enable them to access employment opportunities, contribute to rebuilding the city, and revive the economy.