Bombings and terror in the Middle-East is bringing devastation to the lives of ordinary families just trying to get by.

The continued war crimes in Palestine by Israel is causing mass displacement as refugees fortunate enough to flee enter neighbouring Syria and Lebanon. But violence is following desperate refugees and bombings in southern Lebanon and Syria leaves communities, migrant and local alike, in humanitarian crisis.

Our food appeal is supporting refugee and local communities who are struggling to provide meals for themselves. In both countries, war, inflation and extreme lack of infrastructure and services leaves families in desperate situations.

But YOUR generosity can bring hope in desperate times. Hope to mothers like Sarah. 

My name is Sarah, and I am a 43-year-old woman. I used to wake up every day feeling grateful for the simple yet fulfilling life we had. My family lived comfortably in our home, enjoying peaceful days filled with laughter and security.

Bread was affordable, costing only 15 S.P., and we never worried about providing three meals a day for everyone. Women focused on caring for their families, while men worked hard to ensure we wanted for nothing. Life was steady, predictable, and filled with small joys. 

That was life in Aleppo, Syria, before the war. 

A woman in a wheelchair queues at a food distribution centre in Aleppo. Our appeal will continue to support families in this way

When the conflict erupted, everything changed. Fear of bombings became our constant reality, and women began working alongside men to help with rising expenses. I worried endlessly about my seven daughters, terrified they might face abuse or harassment in such dangerous times. As the situation worsened, I suffered a back injury that left me unable to work, which only deepened our struggles. 

With no income, my husband began searching through bins for food. We were forced to move repeatedly to escape the bombings, losing our homes and any sense of stability along the way.

In our desperation, we cleaned worms off bread to make it edible, and we scavenged for anything that might sustain us. 

One day, a rocket explosion injured my children. My son lost a finger and began to stutter because of the trauma, while my daughter suffered a serious leg injury.

Though we eventually found temporary shelter, the hardships persisted.

My daughters married young because of our circumstances, and then tragedy struck again. An earthquake took the life of one of my daughters, along with her husband and their eldest daughter.

Her three surviving children were left orphaned and now live with their grandparents. One of them is slowly losing their hearing, a lingering consequence of the earthquake. 

Today, we struggle to afford even a single meal.

My husband’s health issues prevent him from working consistently, and our monthly rent of 300,000 S.P. is an overwhelming burden. My children have been forced to leave school to help support the family. One of my married daughters recently returned from Turkey to live with us, along with her husband and children, but her husband is unemployed, adding to our financial struggles. Another daughter, who is a trained hairdresser, cannot afford the resources to start her business. 

We survive on stale bread and face challenges every single day. My son’s despair deepens, and the entire family feels crushed by depression.

I feel hopeless as I struggle to provide even the most basic necessities for my children. But despite it all, I pray for a better future for them—a future where they can live a life of dignity and peace, free from the hardships we endure. 

Today, you can do something amazing and help support families like Sarah’s who are enduring the unimaginable. 

*Sarah’s name has been changed

Photo Credit: JRS Syria