Two Changing Spheres–Iraqis and NGOs in Syria

Prepared by: Katherine Kraft
Middle East Fellowship | August 2008

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Summary:

An overview of international non-profit involvement in Syria and the changes in relief and development work in Syria as a result of the influx of Iraqi refugees, international funding for programmes with Iraqi refugees, and the long-awaited establishment of international Non- Governmental Organizations in Syria.

The arrival of close to 1 million Iraqis in Syria has entailed a significant humanitarian crisis, and the Syrian government has recognised that it is unable to meet the enormous needs of such a large influx of refugees on its own. NGOs are a relatively new phenomenon in Syria – few have existed as legal entities in this country for so much as a decade – but the involvement of international players in humanitarian and development work is even newer. The sudden need for increased resources, including financial investment and capacity-building, have meant that International non-profit agencies now have unprecedented opportunities in Syria.

While Syrian NGOs continue to work primarily or even exclusively with nationals, International players have been specifically tasked with working with the refugee population. Faith-based organisations are the only organisations that are currently working openly and extensively with both Syrians and non-Syrians, albeit in separate programmes under one umbrella. Because of these dynamics, this report focuses on International and Church-based organisations and programmes geared toward Iraqis, as opposed to the extensive and growing community of Syrian humanitarian and development work that is targetting fellow Syrians.

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