ReliefAid

A little bit of joy in Syria! 💛

This month ReliefAid delivered 105 play kits to children in Syria through our Bounce Back for Syria programme!

For children who have grown up surrounded by conflict and displacement, something as simple as a toy can mean so much. A ball, a skipping rope, or a colouring book can mean hours of play and a chance to simply be a child again.

BounceBack4Syria was created to help children build resilience through play, creativity and connection, giving them moments of joy and a sense of normality, even in incredibly difficult circumstances.

These distributions are about more than toys. They’re about reminding children that they matter, that they haven’t been forgotten, and that there is still room for joy in their lives.

Thank you to everyone who made this joy possible. 💛

Ongoing shelling and gunfire have made it too dangerous for farmers to reach their fields and animals. Several people have already been injured trying to access their land and livelihoods. Families have been forced to flee their homes, leaving behind not only possessions, but generations of work and stability.

Now the situation has become one of extreme hardship. "I know people who are struggling just to eat.…Thank God, we came to this centre."

Read more of Akram's story of life under fire in Lebanon here: https://reliefaid.org.nz/story/akrams-story/

We're still publishing behind the scenes footage of our aid distributions on YouTube. Make sure you are subscribed to find out what it's like working for ReliefAid during the hot summer in Syria!

Packing Food Aid in near 50°C Heat in Syria | Humanitarian Aid with ReliefAid What is it like to pack food aid in Syria when temperatures reach 4...

Thank you Amanda Gillies for such a compelling and compassionate interview with our Communications and Advocacy Director Anne Bulley. We are so fortunate to have so many caring people determined to make a difference on this side of the globe, while our colleagues in Syria work hard to make a difference in their own communities.

In a country emerging from 13 years of war, a Kiwi finally meets her colleagues Today from The Detail: Kiwi Anne Bulley promised herself she would go meet her Syrian colleagues in person when it was safe enough. After 13 years of waiting, she finally made it.

Did you see us around New Zealand last week? 👀

A huge thank you to QMS Media for giving ReliefAid space on billboards across the country and helping us put humanitarian crises in front of thousands of New Zealanders. ❤️

For people living through conflict and crisis, being forgotten can be almost as devastating as being unseen in the first place.

That’s why advocacy and awareness matter. It’s about keeping people’s stories in the public conversation, helping New Zealanders understand what is happening beyond our shores, and reminding the world that people living through conflict are still there, still rebuilding, still hoping, and still needing support.

Our work doesn’t stop at delivering aid. We believe in making sure the people we support are seen, heard and not forgotten.

Thank you, QMS, for helping us do that. Your support saves lives.

Did you spot a ReliefAid billboard? Let us know where!

Some good news!

We've just completed our first week at Bounceback4Syria! The ReliefAid team started delivering our 6-week resilience programme for children in a displacement camp in North-West Syria.

Week one focuses on the key resilience theme of "I can do it!' building confidence through play. It brings us so much joy to see these images coming through from Syria and knowing that it's New Zealanders and supporters from all over the world who made those smiles :)

For months, Lidia and her family sheltered in a damp cellar as rockets flew overhead. She lost her husband, her son, and much of her home to the war, yet she continues rebuilding with remarkable resilience. Her story is one of countless across Ukraine, where families are working to restore not only their homes, but also hope for the future.

Read more about Lidia's story here.

Holding on to hope in Ukraine Lidia's story reveals the human impact of the war in Ukraine and how humanitarian aid is helping families rebuild their homes, lives, and hope.