Returning to Syria stronger and more resilient
The story of Ihsan Relief and Development (IhsanRD) illustrates what’s possible when expertise meets lived experience: improving the lives of millions in a matter of months.
After years of operating from Turkey, IhsanRD has returned to Syria. They rejoined communities making their way home after more than a decade of conflict and, more recently, the devastating earthquake of February 2023. Many families had already been displaced once and were forced to move again after their refugee camps in Turkey were damaged or destroyed.
Throughout this period, IhsanRD focused their efforts on building their technical and training capacity in community WASH promotion (CWP), drinking water quality testing (DWQT), and household water treatment and safe storage (HWTS). With support from CAWST, this would help them deliver clean, safe water in some of the most complex humanitarian settings.
A member of the CAWST team tours water storage tanks for a refugee camp in southern Jordan with Al-Jawhara Charitable Society.
Access to clean water, safe transportation, and storage has been an enormous challenge for displaced people. But through dedicated local leadership and tailored training, IhsanRD is now delivering life-saving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services to thousands. As displaced families begin to return to Syria, IhsanRD is returning with them stronger, more prepared, and deeply committed.
“Our collaboration with CAWST has significantly strengthened our ability to meet one of the most critical needs in humanitarian settings. With CAWST’s training and technical support, our teams are now implementing sustainable WASH solutions that restore dignity to thousands of people,”
Children in northwest Syria, pictured during community support activities led by IhsanRD (photo supplied with permission).
Client spotlight: IhsanRD
Ihsan Relief and Development (IhsanRD) is a Syrian organization delivering critical water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in conflict-affected areas of northwest Syria and neighboring countries. Working closely with local councils, IhsanRD restores water systems, supplies essential equipment like pumps and disinfectants, and supports operations through staffing and maintenance. Their approach balances immediate humanitarian response with long-term resilience, offering technical training and helping communities establish sustainable water fee systems. By combining infrastructure rehabilitation with local capacity building, IhsanRD ensures that water services continue even after projects are handed over to local authorities. Their work exemplifies community-driven impact in settings affected by conflict.
Technology spotlight: The multi-barrier approach in Northwest Syria
The multi-barrier approach is critical to improve drinking water safety in northwest Syria. This strategy involves layering different interventions to protect water sources, rehabilitate infrastructure, promote safe storage, and ensure ongoing monitoring. The result is safer drinking water, healthier families, and more resilient systems. In conflict-affected areas, this approach is not only technical, it’s transformational for health, dignity, and daily life.
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How do you prevent and treat contaminated drinking water? Take this fun and interactive micro-course about the multi-barrier approach to ensure that water is safe to drink.
