CARMA

Syria has been affected by multiple crises for years: the Syrian conflict, which has been ongoing since 2011; a historic economic and food crisis; the aftermath of a severe earthquake in February 2023; and, most recently, the transition to new authorities. Following the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad, Syria is torn apart. Different groups control different areas, and borders remain unclear. In the summer of 2025, heavy fighting broke out in the south, leaving dozens dead, causing massive destruction, and displacing many people. For many, the supply of water, food, and medical aid collapsed. These multiple crises are fueling each other and having a dramatic impact on the Syrian population: 16.5 million people are now dependent on humanitarian aid. The Caritas project CARMA (Cash Assistance in Re-Emerging Markets in Syria) supports those particularly affected by these long-standing crises.

CARMA is funded by the European Union.

In addition to the consequences and effects of the Syrian conflict, the population has also been struggling with an economic crisis of historic proportions since 2019. Since then, the Syrian lira (SYP) has continuously and dramatically lost value - with severe effects on the population. Between 2019 and 2022, the general price index increased 6-fold, food prices even 7-fold. As a result, even basic foodstuffs are barely affordable.

Meanwhile, more than 14.6 million Syrians are affected by food insecurity - more than one million children suffer from malnutrition. 75 % of the children do not receive enough food to be able to develop healthily. In order to be able to provide for their own families, people are increasingly taking high risks in order to be able to cover their basic needs.

The CARMA (Cash Assistance in Re-Emerging Markets in Syria) project provides cash-based support to particularly vulnerable families who have lost their livelihoods as a result of the long-standing crises. Launched in 2019 in collaboration with Caritas Switzerland, the EU-funded project now supports nearly 6,000 families in rural areas of Damascus, Dara'a, Hama, Homs, Sweida, and Aleppo in meeting their basic needs. In total, more than 17,000 people benefit from basic services and protective measures. Cash assistance offers flexibility, dignity, and self-determination, as recipients are best placed to assess their own needs and set priorities. At the same time, it stimulates local markets, which has a multiplier effect. In addition, this form of aid also reduces negative coping strategies for those affected, such as having to go into debt to finance food or medicine, or even having to take children out of school. With financial support from the EU, activities were expanded to the population in the Sweida and Dara'a regions, which had been affected by fighting in the summer of 2025.

The CARMA project is funded by the European Union as well as by financial and technical support from the consortium partner Caritas Switzerland. The project is implemented directly in Syria by our partners Caritas Syria and GOPA-DERD.