The Issue
The prolonged conflict in Syria has caused immense suffering, leaving millions displaced and vulnerable. In Northeast Syria (NES), particularly in Ar-Raqqa, essential infrastructure has been decimated, with 70% of public buildings damaged, affecting education, shelter, and healthcare. Across NES, the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are scattered in 152 informal settlements, 9 Camps, and 85 collective centres. Ar-Raqqa alone hosts 105,597 internally IDPs in informal settlements and collective centres, leaving residents without access to basic services.
Displaced families face harsh weather without adequate shelter, exacerbating protection risks like gender-based violence and child exploitation. Limited livelihood opportunities trap communities in poverty, compounding vulnerabilities. One such community, Al-Dahmoush informal settlement, home to 405 individuals, struggles with inadequate shelter, lack of privacy, and protection risks, including child labour and early marriage. Therefore, DCA aims to address the gaps in relation to the provision of protection, shelter and early recover needs in overlooked communities in Ar-Raqqa.
The Project
The project aims to strengthen resilience among conflict-affected communities in Ar-Raqqa by addressing protection, recovery, and shelter needs. Protection services include psychosocial support for women and children, case management for survivors, and community-based protection groups. Early recovery initiatives empower women and girls through vocational training and start-up grants, improving their economic independence.
The shelter interventions include distributing tailored shelter kits, constructing mudbrick homes through cash-for-work activities, and providing awareness raising sessions on disaster risk reduction. These efforts enhance safety and living conditions while fostering community-driven solutions.
DCA implements the project in close collaboration with local authorities and technical working groups.
The Change
The project envisions safer, more resilient communities where families live with dignity and stability. Expected outcomes include:
- Improved psychosocial well-being for individuals, with structured support for women and children.
- Women gaining vocational skills and starting income-generating activities.
- Upgraded shelters for individuals in informal settlements ensuring safety and privacy.
- Community-driven protection mechanisms addressing local risks.
Through these interventions, families will experience improved mental health, economic opportunities, and secure living conditions, paving the way for sustainable recovery.
Our Work
DanChurchAid has been present in Syria since 2015. Implementing projects to directly target the people most in need, we identify local community groups in hard-to-reach areas to provide small, flexible grants to survivors and community-led response, and we support shelters for internally displaced people and other people affected by war. DCA also has protection teams and mine clearance teams.
About the project
Full title: Empowering and strengthening community resilience in NES
Period: July 2024 – December 2024
Amount: 1,700,000 DKK
Number of people reached by end of project: 2,204 (949 males, 1,255 females).
Donor: DANIDA
