12 months after the earthquake and 13 years into the conflict, Syria’s recovery remains elusive

Displaced for years, Um Abdo and her family had sought refuge in Lattakia, the coastal area in north-west Syria, when the conflict began, clinging to the hope of a safer life. Having lived through many years of hardship, Um Abdo was no stranger to adaptation. However, the earthquake inflicted a wound beyond comparison.

“I was visiting my family in Aleppo when I received a call telling me that my building had collapsed and my husband and four of my children were under the rubble,” Um Abdo recalled.

In a single, devastating moment, her world shattered. Her husband and four of her children were gone, leaving only her youngest daughter, who was physically and emotionally scarred. Now a single mother carrying the weight of unimaginable loss, Um Abdo settled in a temporary shelter in Lattakia with her daughter. They survive on the little support they receive from Um Abdo’s 18-year-old son, who earns a daily wage only when he finds different day jobs, such as construction.

Um Abdo is trying to find the strength to rebuild not just a home but a future for herself and her injured daughter.

Standing in the doorway of her new home, 28-year-old Rahaf tightly holds her 15-day-old son, his tiny face a beacon of hope in a world still reeling from the earthquake.

She and her husband lost their old home, its walls crumbling in the tremor's fury. But thanks to the local non-governmental organization Mozayeek, they have a roof over their head and a small bassinet for their precious child.

"I hope that the future brings better days for my baby," said Rahaf, smiling through tears.

But a shadow of uncertainty clouds her eyes. Her husband is a daily worker, and they struggle to keep up due to inflation and economic hardship, which severely affect millions of Syrians.

Rahaf explains that the burden of providing for her newborn feels heavy.

Her words echo the anxieties of countless families grappling with the earthquake’s aftermath. Rahaf's new home offers a temporary respite, but the path forward remains unclear.

For nearly a year, painful reminders of the earthquake played out on the cracked walls of Mustafa’s home.

“It was the first time in my life I’ve experienced something so strong as this,” explained Mustafa, a retired teacher in Aleppo.

With no windows and doors, he and his wife weathered the seasons, enduring summer’s heat and winter’s chill.

Mustafa’s home, once a haven for his family, is now a refuge for two more families. Three years ago, the economic downturn forced two of his married children to sell their homes and seek refuge in Mustafa's house. They and their families squeeze under the same roof as Mustafa, sharing meals and fears of the future’s uncertainty and the weight of their struggles. Most family members work double shifts, their days a relentless struggle to cover their basic needs.

Their dream of repairing the house grew dimmer each day, due to the rising cost of materials. But in January, international non-governmental organization SIF (Secours Islamique France) offered Mustafa support by repairing the house but also providing a glimmer of hope for a future free from exposure to the harsh elements.

Widowed and left with five children, Rehab shoulders the immense responsibility of being their sole caregiver. Two of her children also battle with a chronic genetic illness and require regular blood transfusions.

Rehab ran a small shop selling women’s clothes, a lifeline that helped her provide for her family. But when the earthquake struck, it shook not only the ground but the very foundation of Rehab’s life. Her shop, her only source of livelihood, crumbled along with her dreams.

For eight long months, the shop’s shutters remained closed as Rehab grappled with the loss of income and the difficult decision to have her daughter leave school to contribute to their daily needs. But Rehab's spirit remains strong. With unwavering determination and a grant from the Syria Humanitarian Fund, she rehabilitated the shop and bought new supplies.

Today its doors are open again, a testament to her resilience, determination, and unwavering love and care for her children, who depend on her strength.

Rehab’s story is one of hardship and hope, a reminder that even amid the rubble, the will to rebuild and persevere can blossom.

The ground still trembles under 8-year-old Hamza's feet, as he relives the horror of the earthquake. His mother, Sakrah, broke her leg as they ran early that morning while everyone around them was terrified, shouting and also running. Sakrah was pregnant with twins, but tragically she lost them both later that night.

Hamza still cannot deal with the shock of fleeing the earthquake with his injured mother and two siblings amid screams and chaos.

He now finds solace only by Sakrah’s side, unable to face school. To this day, he still hasn’t received specialized emotional support.

The crisis continues in Syria, with the devastating conflict now entering its thirteenth year. The country’s infrastructure is decimated, basic services are non-existent, the economy is in freefall and nearly 7 million people remain displaced within Syria. The country’s humanitarian needs have never been higher; 16.7 million people urgently need humanitarian assistance this year.

The February earthquake exacerbated the situation, leaving scars in people’s psyche that will reverberate for decades. As Syria struggles to recover, humanitarian partners struggle to provide support as global funding dwindles. But the UN and its partners remain committed; they will persevere to ensure support for the most vulnerable people so that Syria can once again shine.