WASH life-saving assistance to vulnerable people residents and returnees in Jebel Saman Sub-District of Aleppo The Action aims at ensuring access to basic WASH-related needs for 37,703 vulnerable resident population and returnees living in the Sub-Districts of Jebel Saman, Aleppo Governorate.
The project intends to address the humanitarian needs in under-served areas, based on the severity of needs and the current humanitarian response, in addition to prepare for an enhanced response for medium-term COVID-19 interventions. Specifically, the project activities include: 
- Light rehabilitation of one water supply facilities, located in Zahraa communities (23,480 beneficiaries), focused on restoring pre-existing capacities in service delivery.
- Light rehabilitation of WASH facilities in 20 schools (14,224 beneficiaries). This includes hands-free hand-washing facilities, increasing of water storage, improvement of gender-oriented and inclusive sanitation facilities accessible to people with disability.
- Conduction of awareness campaign: (i) hygiene promotion campaign at community level in the area of the rehabilitated water supply system (23,480 beneficiaries), and (ii) conduction of risk communication and promotion of hand hygiene in 20 schools (14,224 beneficiaries), with the distribution of soaps and hygiene-cleaning kits for schools. This will establish hygienic behavior and practices to improve overall hygienic knowledge, attitude and practices, thus responding to COVID-19 preventive measures. 
The overall WASH condition of the selected area will improve, with positive consequences also in the nearby communities. The intervention targets also newly accessible areas from Damascus-based organizations, and therefore in high need of support. Beneficiaries will have their access to water improved through the rehabilitation of the water supply system, to sanitation through the rehabilitation of the WASH facilities in schools, and to hygiene and awareness through the risk communication campaign.

The action is fully aligned with the Allocation Objectives and priorities.
The activities have been identified through a need-based field assessment jointly conducted by GVC staff and line ministries’ personnel (Aleppo Water Board and DoE). The aim of the intervention, in line with 2020 HRP Objective 1, is to provide lifesaving and life-sustaining humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people with an emphasis on those in areas with high severity of needs. Eventually, the intervention is also aligned with the UNCT Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19, and the Consolidated Planning and Requirements for COVID-19 Across Syria, contributing to prevent and mitigate the diffusion of the virus.
Selected locations are scored 3 in the WASH severity scale 2019, and are identified as priority by the WASH Sector. The activities will be fully coordinated with the WASH, Education Sectors, and line ministries.

The activities are developed in line with the international guidelines and standard (e.g. SPHERE Standard, IASC Guidelines, INEE minimum standards, etc.). 

The intervention will be fully and directly implemented by GVC staff, which is actively present in the identified area since 2014. Operations will be coordinated from GVC office in Aleppo.