Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Syria began as almost any mission of JRS in the world: as an answer to a crisis to welcome refugees. It seems like distant history, but in 2008, Syria was a destination for Iraqi refugees. Three years later, when the war began in Syria, JRS was already present, and it became one of the main apostolates of the Jesuits in the country, supporting not only the Iraqis (until 2013) but also the Syrian people fleeing their homes, taking refuge in the mountains or in some suburbs of Damascus, or becoming trapped under siege, as in Homs or Aleppo.

After 2018, the situation became somewhat more peaceful. JRS closed its field kitchens and other emergency projects and directed its efforts towards non-formal education for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and their host communities, community building, health projects, among others. JRS moved its presence to be in crucial areas: Jaramana, an overcrowded suburb of Damascus where the Society built its new Damascene house, Bab Sbaa, an area of Homs where the war between neighbours was violent, Sakhour, a poor suburbs of Aleppo that was controlled by Daesh area, and Kafroun, a mountain refuge for people from Homs and Aleppo.

From 2018 to December 2024 (except for the earthquake and the war in Lebanon), JRS projects remained relatively stable amidst the economic turmoil. People have lost 96% of their purchasing power over these years, and the majority have been looking for a way out of the country. By 2023, more than 16.7 million people were in humanitarian need (and this number has remained largely unchanged). One-third of the population is still considered displaced. In this context, JRS with its 360 staff tried to offer places of hope and care but is small in front of the needs.

And now? After the fall of Assad’s regime in December 2024, what is JRS role? We still have to understand it; we must be patient and optimist. But being patient and optimistic is not easy for the people after 14 years of crisis, and a lot of Syrians are afraid of the unknown.

JRS is therefore continuing its mission after a brief interruption in December:

• The educational project in our four centres is bigger than in the past years. JRS tries to be as close as possible to the parents as well as the children, offering them teaching support (Basic Literacy and Numeracy), social and emotional learning, and a joyful “daily life” in small groups (the children attend for up to three hours a day, four days a week). Two special groups are also given particular attention: 9^th grade students are helped to prepare for the national exam, and children who have been forced to work come in on Fridays for classes. Indeed, child labour increases because of the dire economic situation and it is very usual to see children in factories or collecting garbage. JRS’s presence to them is still growing, and efforts are being put in place to be even more effective in the future.

• JRS implements a range of Psycho-Social Support (PSS) activities aimed at Community Building. The organization invites people of different groups or backgrounds to parenting, literacy or recreational sharing groups. The goal of this is to be a safe space for sharing and to help everyone to see the positive value of interdependence.

• A holistic health project provides access to primary healthcare, PSS, and health education for 10,000 families in Northeast Aleppo.

Since establishing its presence in Syria in 2008, JRS has worked to serve everyone, responding to the needs of people in difficult situations regardless of their religion or country. JRS has been crucial in recent years and even more so during the war. In fact, in some areas, JRS was one of the only few organizations on the ground, offering humanitarian support to those in need. While many keep on the hope that other organizations and the international community will come to support the country’s rebuilding, JRS hopes to continue to grow in the understanding of those whom it is called to serve and accompany.