What we do in Gaza
Attacks in Gaza continue despite the ceasefire. Far too little humanitarian aid is getting in, and the needs remain immense. Yet every day, we continue to help.
Women reclaiming their future in Syria
For years, Khan Shaykhoun in southern Idlib was known around the world as a symbol of the Syrian war. Right here, Norwegian Church Aid has established a center for women and girls. Everyone we meet carries stories of war and displacement.
Situated along a strategic highway linking Damascus and Aleppo, the town experienced repeated attacks, displacement, and destruction. Families fled their homes multiple times.
Many grew up knowing little but conflict, uncertainty, and loss. Even after active fighting subsided, the consequences of war remained deeply embedded in everyday life.
Women and girls carried a particularly heavy burden. One of them is Batoul Kayal. 30 and widow. Her husband died in Sednaya prison, one of Syria’s most feared detention centers.
Husband died in prison
We meet her in the modest house where she lives with her mother-in-law and her two children. The neighborhood still lies in ruins. Her mother-in-law's home is missing entire walls, a stark reminder of the devastation the war left behind. Yet despite everything, she is slowly trying to rebuild her life after losing her husband and the father of her children, Raghad and Rabee.
She tells us that one day her husband left for work as usual. On his way, he was stopped and arrested. That was the last time she ever saw him. Years later, the family learned that he had died in the notorious Sednaya prison. Since then, she has carried the responsibility of raising their children alone while navigating the challenges of displacement, loss, and rebuilding a future from the rubble of war.
The Khan Sheikhoun attack in Idlib province in April 2017, when a sarin gas attack killed many civilians, remains one of the most widely reported atrocities of the Syrian war. The family was there when it happened. They ran as fast as they could and took shelter among the ruins. Despite the ongoing conflict, they have remained here ever since. We slept on mattresses inside a house with no walls,” she recalls.
We also met her mother-in-law. Khoula Khaled Jueid. She is eager to show us her home. The house has no walls, yet she welcomes us into the small kitchen.
"I have lived here throughout the war," she says. "We spent our money rebuilding the home for my daughter-in-law and my grandchildren. Everything we owned was stolen. From mattresses to kitchen utensils. We were left with nothing."
"My daughter-in-law has a special place in my heart, just as my son did. We cry together often, and my grandchildren look so much like their father. For us, it is about standing together as a family, supporting one another, and trying to stay positive despite everything. We have had to change our perspective on life."
Both she and her daughter-in-law receive support through our center.
Struggle to meet basic needs
Years of displacement, poverty, disrupted education, and weakened social support systems increased the risks of gender-based violence, early marriage, social isolation, and psychological distress. Many families struggled to meet basic needs, while lingering trauma and economic hardship continued to shape relationships and community dynamics.
Against this backdrop, the Syriac Patriarchal Development Committee (EPDC), in partnership with Norwegian Church Aid and with support from NORAD, implemented an integrated programme to support women, adolescent girls, and vulnerable community members in Khan Shaykhoun. The initiative combined gender-based violence prevention and response, psychosocial support, life skills, economic empowerment, community awareness, and cash assistance.
At the centre of the programme were life-skills activities designed for women aged 18 to 59 and girls aged 12 to 17. But these sessions offered much more than practical training. For many participants, they became one of the few safe spaces available to meet others, share experiences, and regain confidence after years of upheaval.
Women and girls learned communication skills, stress management techniques, self-care practices, first aid, healthy nutrition, and ways to strengthen self-esteem. Vocational activities such as sewing, embroidery, crochet, and home-based production also helped participants explore opportunities to contribute to household income and rebuild their sense of independence.
In total, 581 women, 426 girls, 100 men, and 222 boys participated in awareness and life-skills activities that promoted protection, resilience, and social cohesion.
Dignity kits
The programme also addressed immediate practical needs. Four hundred dignity kits were distributed through safe and confidential modalities, helping women and girls access essential hygiene and menstrual health items that many families could no longer afford. Alongside the distributions, participants received information on personal hygiene, gender-based violence prevention, and available support services.
At community level, awareness sessions encouraged open discussions about violence, harmful practices, rights, prevention, and access to support. Women, girls, men, and boys participated in activities held in community centers, schools, health facilities, and public spaces. The community also engaged in national campaigns, including the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, creating opportunities for dialogue on issues that are often hidden or stigmatized
For survivors of violence, specialized case management services provided a critical lifeline. Eighty-one women and girls received confidential support, including assessments, safety planning, referrals, and follow-up services. Forty survivors received Cash and Voucher Assistance to address urgent needs such as transportation, healthcare, shelter, food, and personal safety. Forty-three women were able to seek support through self-referral, demonstrating increasing trust in the available services. Among reported cases, psychological and emotional violence was the most common form of abuse, followed by physical and economic violence.
Impact through integrated programs
The impact extended beyond individual participants. In a community marked by years of displacement and social disruption, safe spaces and community-based activities helped strengthen trust, connection, and resilience. They created opportunities for women and girls not only to recover from the effects of war, but also to build skills, confidence, and aspirations for the future. Through integrated support that combines protection, psychosocial care, economic empowerment, and community engagement.
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