The UN calls the tragedy in Idlib “the greatest humanitarian horror story of the 21st century“. Thirteen million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes over the past ten years, or 60% of the country’s estimated population. Of these, 6.6 million are refugees, accounting for a quarter of the world’s total refugee population, and those displaced within the country, the world’s largest displaced population. The conflict has killed and maimed hundreds of thousands of civilians, forced millions from their homes and impoverished the country. Syria has seen its economy collapse, its currency depreciate and food prices rise sharply. While violence has decreased́ compared to 2018 and 2019, the needs remain.

Fearing them dead or scattered in exile, we remained for a long time without news of a small team of volunteers, known on the spot during the pre-war years, to whom we were deeply befriended. In October 2014, miraculously, contact was re-established with those who were able to remain active. In order to evaluate what is feasible and to reinforce the local team, one of our team visited the site in 2014, 2016 and 2017. The mission planned for 2019 had to be postponed because of the internal conflicts in Lebanon, which is a necessary passage to reach the Syrian border, and again in 2020 in relation to the pandemic.

The spread of COVID-19 in the country has only made the situation worse, making the task of humanitarian aid much more difficult . The local team was hit very hard, and so were we, by the death of our dear Fina. From the very first day of the formation of the Vivere-Syria team, our friend was at the forefront of the action as co-responsible for this courageous group, which she never ceased to inspire and motivate in the field work despite the dangers and challenges generated by the war.