Photo caption: Fadi* and Karima* (both on the left) sit with their children for a portrait photo in their home, which was rehabilitated by the MERATH-supported project. Photo by Hunter Williamson.

In a war-torn city in western Syria, a project supported by Thimar’s relief and development ministry MERATH is helping families return to homes they were forced to abandon years ago. By rehabilitating damaged houses, the project is giving displaced families more than a roof over their heads. It is restoring a sense of stability, dignity and hope for the future.

In December 2024, the fall of the former regime brought an end to more than a decade of brutal civil war in Syria. Yet millions of Syrians remain displaced.

Across Syria, neighborhoods once filled with families, shops, tourists and children playing now stand scarred by years of fighting. Homes have been destroyed, damaged or left uninhabitable, leaving many families with nowhere to return and making the question of whether a home still exists one of the greatest barriers to coming back.

For the past eight years, MERATH, in partnership with the Fellowship of Middle East Evangelical Churches (FMEEC), has worked to address this challenge by supporting a home rehabilitation project.

The project team has restored more than 400 houses, enabling families to leave temporary shelters and return to their communities. The work often involves repairing structural damage, replacing doors and windows, restoring electrical and water systems, and making homes safe for families to live in again. While the work itself may take only weeks, its impact can last for years, helping families regain stability, reconnect with their communities, and begin rebuilding their lives. Houssam*, the manager of the rehabilitation project, shared:

“From the beginning, our primary goal has been to help as many war victims as possible. Our team maintains a positive and respectful approach. We treat everyone with brotherly love, and the residents feel it. The people we help need not only financial support but also moral support, which is often even more important, and we strive to provide both.”

For Houssam and the team, the joy of seeing people return home and regain their dignity is the true purpose and motivation behind their work. As part of the rehabilitation process, they also involve homeowners by providing temporary employment opportunities to help restore their own homes.

“For example, if a homeowner is a painter or has construction skills, we employ them so they can participate in the rehabilitation work and benefit from the opportunity. Once the house is completed, the family can return to live in it. Through this process, we have not only restored homes but also provided meaningful support to the people we serve.”

Photo caption: Some of Fadi’s children play outside on the terrace. After the home was damaged and his family was forced to flee, Fadi thought his family would never return home. “I couldn’t believe we were back home and able to sit outside (on the terrace),” Fadi recalled thinking after his home was rehabilitated. Photo by Hunter Williamson.

A return that once felt impossible

Fadi* is a barber who owned a small barbershop beneath his home in the neighborhood where he had lived for almost 50 years. Life was stable and simple for him, his wife Karima*, and their children. But that stability did not last. His dream of seeing his children grow up healthy and safe vanished when a missile struck their home at the beginning of the conflict. That day remains vivid in his memory.

“That morning, my son and I were working at the barbershop,” he said. “It was a difficult day. They were shelling the area when suddenly we saw dust rising from our house. We had just left.”

Karima and the children were at the house that day and miraculously survived the attack. Medics rushed them to the hospital, where they received treatment. After they recovered, another painful journey began. For 12 years, Fadi, Karima and their daughters moved from one rented home to another, searching for stability amid poverty and hardship. During that time, the family also moved in with Karima’s mother, who had become extremely ill. Years later, Karima lost her mother, leaving her to grieve yet another painful loss and carrying an even heavier burden.

When fighting in the area stopped, Fadi returned to check on his house and shop. For him, returning home felt impossible. Seeing his damaged house was painful. He felt devastated and didn’t believe the house could ever be rehabilitated. While there, his friend, who had previously benefited from the rehabilitation project, told him to register his name with the team. Within about a month, the project team repaired the damages in Fadi’s house, making it safe enough for the family to move back.

“We were extremely happy,” he said. “I couldn’t believe we were back home. We thought we would never return. But we did. It’s an indescribable feeling to see the children playing here and to have your house back to normal. What more could you want? Thank God.”

The repairs went beyond fixing just windows and walls; they gave the family back the routine and comfort that had disappeared for years. For Karima, seeing the house destroyed on the day of the shelling left a pain that lingered for a long time. Now, standing in her restored home, her emotions are different. With tears of joy, she shared:

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “Praise be to God, I am happy. It is an indescribable joy. God has honored me by allowing me to return to my home. A rented house is never permanent. At any moment, the landlord can ask you to leave, and you don’t know how you will manage. But this is my home.”

Photo caption: One of the battered neighborhoods where the project is actively repairing homes. Photo by Hunter Williamson.

For millions, home remains a distant hope

Fadi’s story reflects the experience of more than 12 million people who have endured years of displacement and instability while dreaming of returning home. Since the end of the conflict, many families have returned to their communities, including hundreds who have been able to rebuild their lives through the MERATH-supported rehabilitation project and other initiatives. Yet, despite this progress, the scale of need remains immense.

Today, an estimated 6.2 million people remain internally displaced across the country living in damaged buildings, overcrowded shelters, or displacement camps. Shelter continues to be one of Syria’s most urgent humanitarian needs. Humanitarian assessments estimate that at least 6.2 million Syrians require shelter repairs, and nearly 79% of damaged homes could be restored rather than rebuilt from scratch. Yet with reconstruction progressing slowly and rents continuing to rise, many families remain unable to return safely.

For Houssam and the team, each family that returns home is a reminder of why this work matters.

“Thanks to this project, many people have returned to their homes and experienced the dignity of having a safe place to live. Their return was our goal, and by God’s grace, we achieved it.”

Watch the video above to learn more about the MERATH-backed home rehabilitation project and how it’s impacting lives in Syria.

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