Stories
July 20, 2026 • 4 min read
With support from the U.S. Department of State, GOAL's Al-Amal ("The Hope") project helped more than 1.4 million people across Syria between December 2024 and March 2026. Through food assistance, clean water, nutrition support and livelihood programmes, families were able to meet their immediate needs while beginning to rebuild their lives.
Years of conflict, displacement and economic hardship have left millions of people across Syria struggling to access food, clean water and healthcare. The Al-Amal project was designed to help families not only survive these challenges but begin rebuilding their lives with dignity and hope.
Adapting to Syria’s Changing Humanitarian Needs
In late 2024, the fall of the Al-Assad regime brought cautious hope for millions of Syrians. For many families who had been displaced by years of conflict, it offered the possibility of returning home. However, it also revealed the immense scale of destruction left behind.
More than one million people left internally displaced people (IDP) sites in northern Syria following the change in government. Yet the humanitarian crisis is far from over. Around seven million people remain displaced across the country, while many of those who have returned face damaged homes, limited services and few opportunities to rebuild their lives.
As communities began returning to their areas of origin, GOAL adapted its response to meet people’s changing needs. With continued support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, families continued receiving essential assistance wherever they were, helping them rebuild their lives during a period of significant change.
This flexible approach also ensured people were never placed under pressure to remain displaced simply to continue receiving humanitarian assistance.
Despite insecurity, operational challenges and rising prices, GOAL continued delivering lifesaving support. Working alongside local partners, GOAL ensured communities continued receiving assistance when they needed it most.
Food Assistance That Gives Families Choice
Access to food remained one of the project’s highest priorities.
More than 384,000 people received cash assistance, allowing families to buy the food they needed through local markets. This gave families the dignity and flexibility to choose the food that best met their needs, while also supporting local businesses and strengthening local economies.
In total, GOAL supported vulnerable households with more than US$26.1 million through humanitarian assistance
GOAL nutrition team member, Shahd Hallak, measures Ahlam’s arm, 2 years old, for malnutrition as her mother, Abeer, supports her.
The project also supported local bakeries to help keep bread affordable and available in crisis-affected communities. Around 448,593 people lived within the catchment areas of supported bakeries, helping ensure one of Syria’s most important staple foods remained within reach for thousands of families.
The impact was clear. Seventy-eight per cent of households receiving cash assistance achieved acceptable food consumption scores, exceeding programme targets. Families also relied less on harmful coping strategies, while 96% reported they had not experienced severe hunger, such as going to bed without food or having nothing to eat.
Improving Access to Clean Water
Safe water is essential for protecting health and preventing disease.
Through the Al-Amal project, nearly 948,000 people gained access to improved water services. This increased the availability of safe water and supported better hygiene practices in some of Syria’s most vulnerable communities.
Community feedback showed high levels of satisfaction with both the quality and reliability of the water provided.
Supporting Mothers and Young Children
Years of conflict have severely damaged Syria’s healthcare system, food supply and water infrastructure. As a result, many families remain at risk of malnutrition, particularly pregnant women and young children.
Over the course of the project, 47,182 pregnant women and children under five received tailored nutrition support.
A further 32,562 caregivers, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers received counselling to help improve nutrition and feeding practices at home.
GOAL and its local partners also screened 42,999 women and children for malnutrition. Of these, 1,160 people with acute malnutrition received treatment.
To help families access healthier diets, 11,522 households received cash and voucher assistance to buy nutritious food while continuing to support local markets.
Working with local Communities
Working closely with communities was central to the success of the project.
Post-distribution monitoring and community feedback showed improvements in food security, access to clean water, hygiene practices and nutrition. Families also reported that assistance was delivered safely, fairly and with dignity.
This feedback helped GOAL and its partners continually improve the programme and ensure support reflected the needs and priorities of the communities they serve.
GOAL supported Abu Sharif, 65, with child nutrition training and direct cash assistance to enable him to purchase healthy food for his grandchildren.
A Lasting Impact
Delivering humanitarian assistance in Syria remains extremely challenging. Insecurity, rising prices and operational disruptions continue to affect millions of people.
Despite these challenges, the Al-Amal project achieved strong results across every sector. It demonstrated how coordinated, long-term humanitarian support can help families move beyond immediate survival and begin rebuilding their lives.
Thanks to the support of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, more than 1.4 million people received vital assistance through the Al-Amal project. As humanitarian needs remain high across Syria, continued international support will be essential to help vulnerable communities recover, rebuild and look towards a more stable future.
