Winter Aid Distributed to 884 Families in Deir ez-Zor
In an ongoing effort to support families returning to their homes in Deir ez-Zor, the St. Ephrem Patriarchal Development Committee (EPDC), in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and under the supervision of the Directorate of Social Affairs and Labor, has completed a humanitarian aid distribution program. The initiative is designed to help local residents cope with harsh winter conditions.
This latest phase of the relief program involved the distribution of 1,167 non-food item packages to families who have returned to the towns of Al-Salihiya and Al-Husayniya. Mohammed Al-Daher, Director of the Al-Maamel Social Affairs Center in Deir ez-Zor, explained that the distribution focused primarily on families returning from outside Syria, from displacement camps, and from areas in northern Syria.
According to Al-Daher, a total of 884 families benefited from the assistance. Specifically, 624 families were supported in Al-Salihiya, while 260 families received aid in Al-Husayniya. This initiative serves as a follow-up to the winter aid program that began two months ago. The current distribution included boxes containing winter clothing and jackets; each package included one jacket, while families consisting of eight or more members were provided with two packages.
Iyad Aswad Al-Assaf, a resident who returned to Al-Salihiya, highlighted the importance of these initiatives in alleviating living burdens. He noted that he had received basic household supplies during the first phase of the program, followed by winter clothing in the current stage, which has helped him meet his family’s essential needs.
The first phase of the campaign, carried out last August, covered a wider geographical area in Deir ez-Zor. It targeted returning families in the villages of Al-Jadeeda, Al-Duhla, Khasham, Hatla, and Marat, in addition to Al-Husayniya and Al-Salihiya. That phase provided a variety of non-food items, including sponges, floor mats, blankets, kitchen sets, lighting supplies, insulation materials, and water containers.
The St. Ephrem Patriarchal Development Committee is a non-profit organization operating under the patronage of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. The committee plays an active role in providing humanitarian and relief services, as well as supporting health, education, and livelihood sectors across various Syrian governorates. These efforts are part of its broader strategy to support the most vulnerable populations amid current economic and social challenges.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
