The crisis in Syria is truly acute, causing much misery to the poor and many health and psychological and economic problems. Poverty has become a major problem that has added to that of shelling.

 In this context, Al-Sham Humanitarian Foundations, in partnership with Eid Charity Foundation, has initiated the “Bahja” Project in Al-Wa’ar area of Homs, aiming to reclaim farmlands and making up for the shortages caused by the siege. The project was launched in November 2015 in Al-Wa’ar neighbourhood in Hons, an area besieged for several years. The population suffers from shortages of vegetables and basic foodstuffs which have led to higher prices. The project was based on the reclamation and cultivation of 70 dunums of summer and winter crops. Winter crops include parsley, watercresses, spinach beetroot, radishes, leeks, turnips, cabbages, and beans. Summer crops include eggplants, mallow, corn, tomatoes, papaya, parsley, beans, cabbages, pumpkins, and melons.

Bahja offers its services to many community groups, such as workers in the project by providing them with employment opportunities and the residents of the region who buy crops at a reduced price. As a result, about 32000 kgs of winter vegetables and 24713 kgs of summer vegetables were produced and benefited 66269 people, while creating 70 job opportunities.