The SRTF and UNDP Restore Safe Water Access, Improve Livelihoods and Food Security in Northern Aleppo

Damascus – Thursday, 25 June 2026 – The Syria Recovery Trust Fund (SRTF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) successfully completed their second joint water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) project in northern Aleppo, restoring reliable and safe water access to an estimated 367,233 people across six communities. 

The “Restoration of Sustainable and Safe Water Access to Six Communities in a Sub-District in Northern Aleppo” project is improving livelihoods and food security, and making a significant impact on residents in the area. 

The project, worth EUR 1.24 million, rehabilitated and solarised four water pumping stations, including a treatment plant, and 8.46 kilometres of the main water supply network, ensuring a sustainable supply of clean potable water to the area and reducing reliance on costly alternatives. Six rain-fed water systems were also installed, for domestic and irrigation purposes, enabling households to irrigate a total of 23 donums (2.30 hectares) of agricultural land, directly contributing to improved food security and household resilience. 

These achievements were made possible through the provision of Cash-for-Work opportunities to 269 individuals, including 57 women, as they worked on the rehabilitation and construction of the water networks, water stations and rain-fed water systems, after receiving training sessions to enhance the quality of the works and improve their skills for future employment opportunities. 

Furthermore, training sessions were delivered to 48 beneficiaries on the management of water storage and efficient distribution, and to 30 water network and station operators to strengthen their technical capacity and practical skills, required to sustain the project and ensure its long-term functionality.  

These efforts combined ensure the sustainable supply of safe and clean potable water to the main water tank in the area, securing residents’ access to it. This will inadvertently contribute to reducing the spread of waterborne diseases and health risks in the long-run, thereby, improving general health conditions and living conditions in the area. 

Yasser, a beneficiary from this project, reflected on the impact saying: “We have benefitted significantly from this water project as it now covers our household needs, in addition to enabling us to grow crops that we greatly use and benefit from. We used to suffer a great deal and struggle to secure water for our households. Now the situation has improved in meeting our households’ needs and in reviving home farming.” 

The SRTF Director General, Eng. Hani Khabbaz, stated: “Given the importance of such a sector across Syria, and the challenges drought has imposed on the land and population over the recent years, the SRTF’s joint efforts with the UNDP have proven successful for the revitalisation of previously affected areas. This project has contributed to increasing the availability of water in the area, improving households’ living conditions, enhancing food security levels and contributing to other vital sectors, which Syrians rely on. We look forward to continuing partnering with the UNDP and working on future projects together, especially those that are already being currently implemented, aiming for even bigger successes.” 

UNDP Resident Representative a.i. in Syria, Rawhi Afaghani, said: "Water is the foundation of health, food security and economic recovery. Syria's path forward depends on restoring the essential services that communities have gone without for far too long. Together through our partnership with the SRTF, we delivered safe water access to thousands of households, enhancing their daily lives, improving living conditions and resilience, while reviving the local economy and ensuring long-term sustainability across the area. We look forward to further cooperation with the Fund to scale this impact across Syria.” 

Implemented over 19 months, including six months of post-implementation monitoring and evaluation, the project is expected to generate continued benefits for communities by improving agricultural yields in the area and revitalising the local economy. 

For more information on this project, visit: 

Restoration of Sustainable and Safe Water Access to Six Communities in a Sub-District in Northern Aleppo 

For more information on the SRTF, visit: 

http://www.srtfund.org