A $2 million agreement to rehabilitate 470 dilapidated houses in Syria has been signed by the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The project will benefit 3,500 returning families in Al Zarbah district in rural Aleppo and in the city of Harasta in rural Damascus.
This agreement is part of ongoing efforts to improve living conditions and enhance stability for people in areas affected by decades of conflict.
It was signed on behalf of the RHF by acting secretary-general Ibrahim Al Dosari and UNHCR in Syria Representative of the High Commissioner Gonzalo Llosa, in the presence of the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Damascus and Bahrain Ambassador to Syria Waheed Sayyar.
UNHCR Syria spokesperson Celine Schmitt said the grant will enable UNHCR to rehabilitate approximately 470 damaged residential units, benefiting nearly 3,600 individuals.
“The project aims to restore safe and dignified living conditions for vulnerable families returning to severely affected areas, with priority given to the most vulnerable households, including female-headed families and persons with disabilities,” Ms Schmitt added.
“Rehabilitation works will include repairs to walls, roofs and foundations, contributing to restoring safety and stability to homes, in addition to providing solar-powered lighting systems to support families in areas experiencing power outages or limited electricity supply.”
She noted that the project will also include repairs to essential water facilities and pipelines, as well as the installation of solar-powered water heaters, to ensure families have access to clean water and safe sanitary conditions.
Mr Al Dosari said the agreement is part of the foundation’s humanitarian efforts to support communities affected by conflicts outside Bahrain.
“This reflects our commitment to contributing to the rehabilitation of impacted areas through the implementation of humanitarian projects that provide safe housing and improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable families,” he said.
He added that the foundation places particular emphasis on supporting families returning to their areas of origin through effective partnerships with specialised international organisations, contributing to the achievement of sustainable humanitarian impact.
Meanwhile, a delegation from RHF visited a number of damaged homes in need of rehabilitation to closely assess the conditions and needs of affected families. They also visited the headquarters of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent as part of efforts to strengthen co-ordination and integration in humanitarian work.
In addition, the delegation met Syria’s Public Works and Housing minister Mustafa Abdulrazzaq and discussed joint partnership in the fields of reconstruction and housing rehabilitation in affected areas.
UNHCR’s strategic plan for Syria focuses on supporting solutions for internally displaced and returnees, maintaining emergency response capacity, and enhancing refugee protection and inclusion.
Before the overthrow of the Bashar Al Assad government in 2024, more than 13 years of conflict had already pushed humanitarian needs in Syria to unprecedented levels. The prolonged crisis resulted in widespread destruction of homes and critical infrastructure, alongside a severe economic collapse. By that time, an estimated 12.3m Syrians had been displaced either within the country or across its borders, including approximately 6.5m people who remained internally displaced after years of turmoil.
&uuid=(email))