Caring for elderly earthquake survivors in Syria - no matter what
Meet 74-year-old Virginia – an Aleppo resident and a member of an Armenian Christian community. She suffers from several chronic diseases, she is unable to work, and she has no savings. She is dependent on the aid she receives from her local church (which Embrace supports) to survive.
The earthquake in February 2023 was a terrifying experience for Virginia, as she lives alone and has difficulty with mobility. Some of the young people from her church were able to take her to safety inside the church building. Her house was badly damaged, and she was unable to return to it for a long time.
Virginia benefits from almost all of her local church’s relief programmes, especially the programme designated for the elderly, which includes medical and food aid, and financial support and heating equipment.
In her own words: “I do not know if there is any hope for the situation to change or for the country to return to what it was before, but the Church’s care for us no matter what makes us reflect on the goodness and blessings in life, and reminds us of the hope we have in our Lord.”
Virginia’s situation is broadly representative of other elderly people in Syria. The elderly are deeply affected by the successive crises that have hit Syria in recent years, especially the catastrophic economic situation – and many rely heavily on economic assistance to simply survive.
About the local church
The Armenian community that Embrace supports in Aleppo helps families, children and youth, and the elderly, with relief and development services, such as food, health and hygiene supplies, and vocational training. Syria is experiencing extreme levels of inflation and most basic goods have become completely unaffordable for most people. The church is working hard to meet needs during an exceptionally hard time in the country.