"It was a very hard night. We couldn't sleep": Mohammad's story. In displacement camps across northwest Syria, winter regularly exposes how fragile daily life remains for families still living in temporary shelters after years of conflict. When severe storms hit on 30-31 december 2025, rain, snow, and flooding damaged tents and informal structures across camps in aleppo and Idlib, leaving many families suddenly without safe living conditions and forcing them to cope with yet another shock on top of ongoing hardship. Preliminary assessments showed that at least 2,650 vulnerable families (approximately 14,000 individuals) across 56 displacement sites were affected, facing urgent needs for emergency shelter, heating, thermal blankets, clothing, and food. The storms also disrupted basic services, contaminated water sources, and heightened the risk of disease and hypothermia, particularly among children, older people, and those with chronic illnesses. Close-up view between shelters in Al-Hawija Camp, showing storm damage, water inside tents and shelters, fragile walls and roofs, and the impact of harsh weather amid limited infrastructure. Escalating needs after the storm. In response, GOAL launched an emergency intervention through the emergency response under the EU-funded SANAD II programme, providing Multi-Purpose Cash (MPC) assistance to over 2,500 of the most severely affected families, including Mohammad's. The response was implemented within 72 hours of site validation, reducing suffering and preventing further deterioration during the peak of the 2025-2026 winter season. Mohammad Abbas Khalif, 50, is a father of seven children. His story reflects the prolonged suffering of a family displaced early in the conflict, now facing severe health and livelihood challenges inside displacement camps, especially during winter. Mohammad carries heavy health-related responsibilities within his family. His son Abdulhai,12, underwent a cardiac catheterisation surgery seven months ago in Türkiye after being diagnosed with a serious heart condition. "Abdulhai's health is fragile, and I struggle a lot to keep up with his treatment," Mohammad explains. Two of his daughters, Bothaina, 14, and Fatima, 8, suffer from malabsorption, requiring special medication and a diet based on corn flour, needs that are increasingly difficult to secure due to poverty and rising prices. "I can barely afford their medicine, not even the flour they need," he says. Mohammad sitting with his children inside their shelter in front of a heater in Al-Hawija Camp, Ma'arrat Misrin countryside, Idlib governorate. Mohammad's displacement journey began in 2011, when he was forced to flee his village of Qasr Al-Makhram in rural Hama following a military offensive. After nearly 15 years of repeated displacement due to ongoing shelling and ground incursions, he eventually settled in camps in northern rural Idlib, where he has lived for the past seven years without lasting stability. The storm's impact and GOAL's support. Before the recent snowstorm, the family's situation was relatively manageable compared to others. However, this fragile stability collapsed when the severe weather hit. Mohammad recalls: "It was a very hard night. We couldn't sleep. The cold was unbearable, and there was no heating." A tent in Al-Hawija Camp surrounded by mud and unpaved roads, highlighting unsafe, informal shelters and lack of privacy for displaced families exposed to winter storms. As snow accumulated, water began leaking into the tent, and the weakened roof nearly collapsed. The suffering extended across the entire camp. Neighbouring tents were flooded, and others collapsed, highlighting the extreme vulnerability of shelter conditions. The storm destroyed most of the family's furniture and household belongings, leaving the tent unsuitable for both the current winter and the upcoming summer. Their urgent needs now include a full replacement of their tent and household items, essential medications, and food assistance. Mohammad's family received support through GOAL's cash assistance program funded by European Union. Through multipurpose cash assistance, families receive flexible cash transfers that allow them to prioritize and purchase the items they need most, such as food, clothing, heating fuel, rent, or medicine based on their own circumstances. This support helped his family buy essential items, though needs remain significant. Mohammad purchasing basic food items after receiving Multi-Purpose Cash assistance in Al-Hawija Camp, Idlib governorate. Mohammad's story reflects the reality facing millions of displaced families across Syria. In the face of winter conditions and ongoing economic hardship, multipurpose cash assistance provides a vital lifeline, enabling families to meet their most urgent needs with dignity and choice. As displacement continues and vulnerabilities deepen, sustained humanitarian support remains essential to help families survive and rebuild. Cash distribution point in Ma'arrat Misrin countryside, where displaced families receive assistance under the EU-funded SANAD II programme. About EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid. The European Union and its Member States are the world's leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises. Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the European Union provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.

GOAL NextGen returns to St. Patrick's Festival 2026 to celebrate Irish roots across borders. GOAL NextGen is set to return to St Patrick's Festival this year, bringing an exciting array of creative collaborations to the iconic Bandstand at St. Stephen's Green. The event runs from 11am-5pm on Saturday March 14th and is free and open to all! Celebrating Irish roots. GOAL NextGen is delighted to partner once again with St. Patrick's Festival to celebrate the theme of 'Roots', an exploration of Ireland's living heritage, and of the people, places, and stories that connect Goal Sl across borders. At the heart of GOAL NextGen, the organisation's Global Citizenship programme, is a commitment to cross-cultural belonging and global connection. Goal Sl bring together young people, age 18-25, from around the globe to deepen their understanding of Global Citizenship and the interconnected nature of its shared world. This year, GOAL NextGen is celebrating all those who call Ireland their home, contributing their cultural expression, language and tradition to enrich its society, alongside its international friends, who carry a piece of Ireland with them, in their communities. The GOAL NextGen programme reflects this dynamic exchange: rooted in Ireland and strengthened by global voices. In celebration of this shared heritage, GOAL NextGen will host a diverse line-up of artists exploring themes of belonging, identity and culture though music, spoken word, and dance. These artists highlight the Irish and international threads that weave people together in its global community. GOAL artist line up. 11.00-11:30 - Experience the energy and creativity of Tura Arutura, a musician, dancer, storyteller and multi-instrumentalist whose work blends Irish traditional music and Sean Nós dance with African rhythm, song and spoken word. Through powerful live performances, Tura celebrates the connection between Irish and African cultures, creating joyful, interactive shows that bring audiences together through music, movement and storytelling 11:30 - 12:00 - Discover the power of spoken word with Mikey Cullen, a Dublin based poet, secondary school teacher, and rap artist who's spoken word piece titled 'Home' has made waves across social media, with over half a million view to date. 12.00-13.30: Enjoy a vibrant celebration of global culture with performances from a range of St. Patrick's Festival Community Groups, including: * Ukrainian Vol Malva Choir (Ukraine) These groups bring rich traditions, dance, music and storytelling from around the world to the stage. Afternoon line-up. 13:30 -14:30 - Visual artist Tuqa Al-Sarraj and theatre artists Gráinnemir and Sorcha Fox present a collaborative performance blending interactive art, poetry and theatre. Together, they invite audiences to explore themes of memory, identity and exile through dialogue, imagery and voice. 14:30 - 16:00 - The stage comes alive once again with another exciting line-up of SPF Community Groups, featuring: * Dance Academy (Ireland) A dynamic celebration of dance, tradition and community from across the globe. 16:00 - 16:30 - Experience the innovative sound of Salamay, a Nigerian-born, Cork-raised artist reshaping contemporary Hip Hop with his fusion of rhythm and poetry. Influenced by Hip Hop, Soul, R&B and Afrobeat, Salamay has earned critical acclaim - including a No. 2 spot on District Magazine's "Top Ten Tracks" for Take It Easy - and placements on major playlists like Spotify's Fresh Finds Hip Hop. With performances from Electric Picnic to Other Voices, he continues to champion Ireland's vibrant Hip Hop scene ahead of his 2026 release. 16:30 - 17:00 - Closing the day is Celaviedmai, one of the most exciting voices in the Irish music scene and one of the few female rappers to reach national prominence. Following her chart-topping #1 single created through GOAL's NextGen X-Change project, Celaviedmai will curate a special set for the GOAL Global Stage, spotlighting emerging Irish artists and performing her powerful collaboration piece "Spark." Connection across borders. Speaking about the GOAL NextGen activation at St. Stephen's Green, Victoria Walshe, Head of Global Citizenship, said, "This is our fourth year participating in the St. Patrick's Festival, and we couldn't imagine a theme more aligned with the heart of our programme. Through our work, we support young people around the world to understand the value of cross-cultural collaboration, sharing, and understanding, and 'Roots' speaks directly to that mission. The festival gives us a unique opportunity to engage creatively and meaningfully with our audiences, and to celebrate the rich values that Irish heritage represents both at home and globally. At a time when intercultural openness and respect are increasingly under threat, it is more important than ever to create spaces that honour cultural exchange and highlight how deeply our global community enriches Ireland, and how Ireland, in turn, leaves its mark across the world." Make sure to visit its information stand at the Bandstand in St. Stephen's to learn more about GOAL NextGen's exciting programme of events and upcoming opportunities, including the launch its for the NextGen Youth Programme for 2026 recruitment, opening March 1st to April 1st. GOAL NextGen hits the Stephens Green Bandstand on Saturday March 14th from 11am-5.00pm. Access to all GOAL NextGen events is completely free. For more information, please visit GOAL takeover at St. Stephen's Green Bandstand - St. Patrick's Festival To speak to one of the artists or a spokesperson from GOAL contact [email protected]