Strengthen life-saving WASH basic services in underserved return areas to restore community resilience in Syria With this project, TGH will directly contribute to Priority 2 of this Allocation by delivering priority humanitarian assistance planned for in 2022-2023 HRP in the areas with demonstrated high needs and low response coverage. This Action aims to strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable conflict-affected populations through providing sustainable WASH assistance in Dar’a, Idleb and Rural Damascus governorates. 

The proposed response is based on TGH 4-year experience in implementing ECHO and OCHA funded WASH projects in Syria. The targeted locations were selected based on their accessibility and severity of needs (all rated level 4 to 5 on the WASH severity score 2022). These areas are witnessing important returns and/or displacements movements thus increasing the level of needs. In May-June 2022, TGH conducted thorough field assessments in the targeted localities and coordinated with the WASH Sector, water authorities, municipalities, SARC and other NGOs. This project will target remote rural areas, which suffered basic critical services shortages, including damage/destroyed water and sanitation infrastructures, poor maintenance, poor water resource management and electricity shortages.

The final objective of the proposed action will be to enhance access to WASH basic services for people affected by the conflict while promoting community resilience. This will be done through a two-fold approach by 1) providing life-saving rehabilitation of WASH facilities to ensure steady and sufficient access to safe drinking water and enhance sanitation environment of conflict-affected communities while 2) strengthen community resilience to ensure the sustainability of the overall intervention.

The rehabilitation of water supply system will provide 800 people with increased access to water in Tamanaah (Idleb) and 9,000 people in Haran Al’Awameed (Rural Damascus). This will be complemented by the installation of solar panels. Similar solar sources of electricity will be installed in Arbin, powering an existing borehole benefitting 3,889 people, and in Mjeireb Elmashad, powering Hawieh pumping station which serves 3,500 people living in 8 surrounding villages (more details in Annex 3 Beneficiary Breakdown).

In Dar'a Governorate, Tafas and Abtaa have been severely affected by the conflict due to destruction and significant influx of IDPs. Therefore, these remote areas will also be targeted by a sewerage line rehabilitation, in order to improve the sanitation environment of IDPs and host community and reduce the risk of water contamination and disease outbreaks. This will directly benefit to 2,900 people in Abtaa and 2,400 in Tafas. 

In Eastern Ghouta, TGH will maintain one of DAWSSA water truck in order to enable them to provide life-saving drinkable water distribution to 4 localities that do not have alternative solutions so far, providing immediate assistance to 97,306 individuals. In parallel to the intervention planned in Arbin, this will be fully part of TGH exit strategy from water trucking in 11 villages in the area. 

Complementary to the provision of humanitarian assistance, TGH strives to strengthen the resilience of the targeted communities. This will firstly be done by building the capacities of 10 local water authorities who will be responsible for operating and maintaining the provided solar supply systems in Arbin, Haran Al’Awameed and Hawieh pumping station. A participatory elaboration of a water quality tests plan and the provision of the needed water quality tests will be conducted in Tamanaah, Al’Awameed and Arbin, aiming to support water authorities. Meanwhile, TGH will encourage 9,381 communities’ children to improve hygienic behaviors and practices. In schools of the same targeted localities where water systems are rehabilitated and equipped, TGH will provide children with hygiene promotion sessions in coordination with SARC volunteers while distributing 5 soaps per child.