Children in Syria are scavenging for food as the country's economic crisis spirals out of control - according to a Catholic charity's head of projects just back from the country. Returning from a 10-day visit to Syria and neighbouring Lebanon, Regina Lynch, director of projects for Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), described dire poverty with people trying to survive on a dollar a day.

She said: "An associate of one of our project partners (in Syria) showed me pictures on her phone, which she took from her flat. You can see a little girl inside a large rubbish bin, rummaging, passing things to her mother.

"The nun who was with us told her: 'Next time you see this, please go to them and give them money. I will repay you later.' It breaks my heart to see such things."

Ms. Lynch said Syrians are "very tired" from a decade of civil war and insecurity amid reports that Turkish forces have been shelling towns in the north-east of the country.

She said: "Syrians are wondering how they are going to rebuild, who is going to help them rebuild the country. But, before that, there has to be some form of peace. They are trying to survive on a dollar a day - unthinkable in a country where, before the war, a large part of the population lived quite comfortably."

The crisis has sparked an exodus of Christians in both countries, said Ms Lynch. She said: "It's truly tragic. Many of the Christians we talked to in Lebanon, those whom we know, their relatives, want to leave. For so many, survival is a real uphill struggle with basic needs in short supply.

"Before the crisis, a teacher could earn between US$1,700 or $2,000 a month. Now, with inflation and the devaluation of Lebanese pounds against the dollar, a teacher's salary is worth $120 to $150 at most."

She added: "To put it sadly: the people are anxious. It's getting worse and worse. Last year we were in Beirut but this time we really saw the decline and despair.

"The same goes for Syria. Before the crisis, Aleppo was home to an estimated 300,000 Christians of different denomination, now some say that only 30,000 are left."

ACN has supported more than 100 projects worth €5million (£4.26m) in Lebanon and Syria in 2021, including emergency aid, medicine, support for Religious, and more.

Ms Lynch said: "We must give hope and support. We are working on a project in Aleppo, which will consist of giving newlyweds enough money to cover basic needs or pay the rent of a flat for two years."

 Following is the text of the interview:

How would you describe the situation in Lebanon?
People are in distress. It is getting worse and worse. This time we really saw the decline and the despair. The same goes for Syria. Before the crisis, Aleppo was home to an estimated 300,000 Christians of different denominations; now some say that only 30,000 are left.

What is the reason? Why do you think the Lebanese, especially Christians, are leaving their country?
It’s truly tragic. Many of the Christians we talked to, those whom we know say their relatives want to leave. For so many, survival is a real uphill struggle with basic supplies in short supply. Before the crisis, a teacher could earn between 1,700 and 2,000 dollars a month. Now, with inflation and the devaluation of Lebanese pounds against the dollar, a teacher’s salary is worth $120 to $150 at most.

And how is the situation in Syria?
In Syria you can see that people are tired, very tired, caught up in an extremely difficult situation for ten years. Fighting is still going on in the northwest region. Although when we visited Damascus, Homs and Aleppo there was no sense of insecurity, the destruction was terrible. Syrians are wondering how they are going to rebuild, who is going to help them rebuild the country. But before that can happen, there must be some form of peace. Various people told us: “During the war at least, they expected it to end at some point, but now, what can they expect?” They are trying to survive on a dollar a day. Unthinkable in a country where before the war, a large part of the population lived quite comfortably.

Could you tell us something that had a particular impact on you during the trip?
An associate of one of our project partners showed me pictures on her phone, which she took from her flat. You can see a little girl inside a large rubbish bin, rummaging, passing things to her mother. The nun who was with us told her: “Next time you see this, please go to them and give them money. I will repay you later.” It breaks my heart to see such things.

How does this situation affect young people?
We must give hope and support. This is why we are going to launch a project for newlywed couples very soon in Syria. Many people don’t get married because they can’t afford a home to live together. It is a situation that also worries the bishops, since the faithful do not marry because they simply cannot afford it. We are working on a project in Aleppo, which will consist of giving couples enough money to cover basic needs or pay the rent of a flat for two years.

In 2021, ACN has provided support to Lebanon and Syria in the form of more than 100 projects worth $5.8M in both countries. These projects include emergency aid to cover basic needs, like food and medicines; subsistence help for nuns; Mass stipends for priests; and the repair and reconstruction of pastoral structures.