Syria earthquake: 6 months on 

In the midst of this humanitarian emergency, Plan International is deeply conscious of the vulnerabilities faced by children, youth, and women, including increased risks of gender-based violence, child labour and child marriage, and it is with this lens that we approached our response. 

Initially, your support helped us to provide immediate protection and lifesaving interventions following the disaster, distributing essential food parcels to the most vulnerable families and personal hygiene and household cleaning kits which are crucial in preventing the spread of diseases and maintaining a safe living environment. With time, we have expanded our response to include WASH), education and rehabilitation interventions with a focus on building resilience to empower communities in the long term. 

We have rehabilitated six water systems so that 106,500 individuals in Aleppo and Latakia now have consistent access to safe drinking water and sanitation and hygiene facilities, and we have installed gender specific WASH facilities, to minimise protection risks for adolescent girls and women living in collective shelters, while also enhancing sanitation and hygiene conditions for all vulnerable populations.  

WASH creating a safer environment for all 

As one of 300 displaced people living inside a shelter in Syria’s fourth largest city without proper WASH units, privacy was impossible.  

“Our lives were filled with challenging and distressing situations living in a collective shelter, particularly when it came to showering,” shares one resident. “We had to rely on the kindness of our relatives for a moment of privacy, as water was not always accessible, and power outages were a common occurrence, creating additional concern for our families. It was a hardship that made us feel vulnerable and exposed." 

After assessing the most urgent needs of those living in the shelter, Plan International and ADRA installed proper gender specific wash units, consisting of 4 shower units for women and 4 shower units for men. 

Sara, a young woman living in the shelter called the shower installation a ‘transformative blessing’ - “Clean, accessible, and functioning water facilities have become a reality, providing us with the essentials for maintaining good health,” she shares. “Regular access to water has become a consistent aspect of our daily lives, and we no longer have to face the hardships of uncertain availability. We feel valued and respected. These shower facilities ensure that girls, in particular, have their privacy and protection while maintaining their dignity. No longer do we have to worry about disturbing on each other’s space, and we can comfortably cleanse ourselves in an environment that respects our need for privacy. This newfound sense of protection has lifted a heavy burden from our shoulders, and we feel safer and more secure within these walls.”