Refugees’ joyful return to Syria

The Syrian civil war lasted for 13 years and caused at least half a million fatalities. After years in refugee camps, in 2025 around 2 million Syrians have been able to return home – and Salam Charity travelled alongside some of them.

Escape from the refugee camps

During the Syrian war, vast refugee camps grew in neighbouring countries, Jordan and Lebanon.

People and families were compelled to escape Syria, leaving their jobs and homes. They took shelter beneath plastic tarpaulins or in tents, often without running water, heating or toilets.

Salam Charity supplied aid to these camps. Our teams on the ground visited regularly to deliver essentials, build toilets, and serve hot meals.

The refugee camps are still busy, and we expect to be there for a while longer. But, in early 2025, parts of Syria became habitable, and many families began to talk about their hope of returning home.

Transport and assistance

There weren’t many people who could imagine financing the journey. They were troubled not only by the cost of transport, but also the lack of infrastructure and the devastation they would find when they arrived.

They knew that many houses have been destroyed and others are too dangerous to enter. But they still longed to return home and rebuild their communities.

Our team in Lebanon shared this information, and Salam Charity agreed to finance transport and renovations for as many Syrian refugees as we could.

On the big day, we were right there with them, from packing and loading to transport and unpacking at the other end.

Rebuilding homes and communities

In war-torn Syria, there was (and is) more work to be done.

In Phase 1, we identified 10 homes which were still standing. Then we hired local labourers to reconnect plumbing, replace floors, doors, and windows, plaster and decorate. We know that enabling the community to rebuild itself – using local skills and facilities – is important.

Some family homes had been annihilated. For those families, we put up 22 insulated tents with frames, which are stronger and warmer than the temporary tents that many had been living in.

The important thing was bringing them back to their home communities, where they could start to plan a secure future.

We’ve rehomed 32 Syrian families so far.

But this isn’t a one-off project. We’re committed to travelling this journey with them. And we invite you to join us.

You’ll hear more about our work in Syria as we renovate more homes and create new opportunities here.

Please donate today and bring light and hope to these devastated communities. Their bricks may have fallen, but their spirits are definitely rising.