The IRC in Syria

Syria is home to the largest concentration of Iraqi refugees, estimated at several hundred thousand. Lacking official status and dispersed in urban areas, the refugees cannot legally work and many struggle to meet their essential needs. Many suffer from trauma and disabilities from the war in Iraq. 

How We Help

The IRC is carrying out an education program for 10,000 Iraqi refugees and vulnerable Syrian children in the capital Damascus. We renovate schools to help accommodate more Iraqi children and offer catch-up education classes for refugee children who have fallen behind due to the different curriculum. We also provide accelerated learning classes for children who are unable to attend school, to help with their return and transition into formal schooling. In addition, the IRC has seconded an education advisor to the United Nation’s refugee agency UNHCR to develop education strategy and initiatives for refugees in cooperation with the Syrian Ministry of Education. The IRC works in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and continues to design new strategies to further address the needs of the Iraqi refugees.

IRC Programs in Syria

Education
The IRC’s education program addresses a critical gap in assistance in Syria, where few international agencies are operational. Through the IRC’s programs this year, approximately 1,300 Iraqi and Syrian children who struggle to stay in school and perform at grade level, or who have been excluded from school and need a transitional program to return, will benefit from academic support. The IRC is also training 54 teachers working directly with Iraqi refugees to better address the students’ needs. Approximately 10,000 students will benefit from improved and increased classrooms in 10 schools currently hosting Iraqi refugee children.