Rochelle Junior

Suwayda - Amid scraps of fabric, remnants of foam, the scent of medicine, and the cries of the wounded, the women of As-Suwayda have woven the story of a nation resisting collapse — with threads of hope and warmth born of hands that do not know defeat. What these women are doing today transcends local initiatives; it is a national and humanitarian act that redefines heroism — not through weapons or force, but through patience, work, and giving.

Between fear and siege, the women of As-Suwayda have created life out of nothing. Some took up needles and thread to sew blankets and mattresses from leftover foam and old fabrics. Others launched charitable initiatives to collect, sort, and recycle clothing, transforming it into new sources of warmth for bodies exhausted by hardship. At the same time, others stood on the frontlines, providing first aid, replacing bandages with primitive tools, and carrying the wounded under shelling to the besieged national hospital.

 

From Nothing... The Birth of the “Needle and Thread” Project

At a time when childhood has vanished from children’s lives and hunger has stripped families of their dignity, the needle, thread, and bandage became women’s weapons against collapse.

Raja Areej, one of the founders of a small women-led initiative born during the siege, explains:

 “We are a group of women in As-Suwayda trying to meet the needs of those displaced from their villages. More than 170,000 people have been displaced, and winter is coming. Families need mattresses, blankets, and pillows, but we have no financial means to buy them, nor can we receive aid from outside due to the siege. So, we resorted to recycling — using leftover foam and old mattresses — and distributing them to families in need.”

She adds: “We, the women of the neighborhood, gathered — each helping according to her ability. Some have sewing experience, others offer their time or effort. We work with the simplest of tools — even our sewing machines are manual because there’s no electricity. Out of nothing, we made something, just to give warmth to our people who have lost everything.”

 

“Our Weapon Is the Needle and Thread”

Inaya Kamal, another participant in the project, says:“Our weapon is the needle and thread.”

She explains,“We started with a small idea — just to support our sons and brothers on the frontlines. We don’t carry weapons, but we fight in our own way — protecting, supporting, and keeping life going. It’s a war of patience and determination, a war fought by women who refuse to surrender.”

 

“Basket of Goodness”... Recycling Life from the Remnants of Hope

Basma Al-Hassan, supervisor of the clothing department at the Basket of Goodness Charity Association in As-Suwayda, shares a different but equally resilient story:

“The men were on the frontlines defending the land, while women’s roles were silent at first — yet very effective. They cooked meals for the defenders, and when the fighting subsided, they went out to clean hospitals, prepare them for the wounded, and later to the streets to clean and revive them.”

She continues: “When things stabilized slightly, we organized our work under the Basket of Goodness Association. I took charge of the clothing section. We receive donations from local residents — everyone gives what they can. We sort the clothes and distribute the usable ones. As for the torn or worn-out garments, we never throw them away; we recycle them into mattresses, pillows, or blankets. Nothing goes to waste — every piece of fabric can bring warmth to another human being.”

Nasma highlights the women’s bravery during attacks on villages:“Women’s roles were not limited to humanitarian work — there were moments of great courage. When ISIS entered one of the villages, only six men were there to defend it. The women climbed onto rooftops, ululating and chanting loudly. The attackers thought the village was full of fighters, panicked, and fled. The women’s voices that day were like weapons of courage, planting fear in the hearts of the invaders.”

She emphasizes that these are not just charitable acts, but true acts of resistance:“We face the siege with work, poverty with creativity, and despair with solidarity.”

 

First Aid in Times of Danger

Women’s participation in As-Suwayda was not limited to charity and volunteering — it extended to the direct humanitarian frontlines.

Mirna Ishti, a volunteer medic, recounts: “During the difficult period we went through, everyone tried to play their part. I provided first aid to the wounded - changing bandages, checking blood pressure and sugar levels, and following up on chronic conditions. We even transported the injured from their homes to the national hospital despite the siege and gunfire.”

She adds: “After things calmed down a bit, we set up a small medical point to ease the burden on the hospital and other health centers. It included volunteer nurses and doctors. We cleaned wounds, followed up on patients, and secured medicines and consultations. The resources were very limited, but our determination to help was greater than all obstacles.”

Mirna describes the experience as a “school of humanity”: “People needed reassurance more than medicine. The women of As-Suwayda proved that compassion in wartime is a strength equal to any weapon.”

Today, the women of As-Suwayda form a tightly woven fabric of patience and perseverance. They sew blankets from leftover foam, recycle torn fabrics into pillows and bedding, tend to the wounded, cook for defenders, and stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity.

From their humble hands emerge great deeds, and from the small walls of their homes rise voices that make a difference in others’ lives. Their simple acts have become a humanitarian lifeline — preserving what remains of social stability in the face of isolation and siege. Sewing, nursing, and volunteer work have turned into symbols of civil resistance in a city worn down by blockade — yet still holding firmly to its humanity.