By Kitty Sadler – Muslim Aid’s Programmes Partnership Manager
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The resilience of communities in North-West Syria, tested time and again by conflict and disaster, was recently confronted by a series of devastating earthquakes which caused widespread destruction across Southern Türkiye and Northern Syria. Idilb Governorate, where Muslim Aid delivers life-saving housing assistance, was one of the many regions affected by the earthquakes.
In Idlib governorate, Muslim Aid has provided resilient housing for vulnerable community members over the last few years, in partnership with ElafRD. Through careful design incorporating disaster risk and resilient mechanisms, these houses were fortunately unscathed by the deadly earthquakes. The houses, created with both durability and sustainability at their core, underscored the importance of designing for the long term and the threat of climate-induced disasters.
At the heart of the housing projects success was the community’s active involvement in the design of the houses and the selection of beneficiaries. Not only were community members beneficiaries, but they were also collaborators.
This ensured the design and implementation of houses were not only culturally appropriate but also consistent with local standards and technical requirements. Their voices and perspectives guided the decision-making process, ensuring that the houses resonated with their lifestyles and aspirations. The project had a clear exit strategy, to provide durable long-term housing solutions which could withstand shocks, providing beneficiaries with increased protection and dignity.
Muslim Aid is now working with our partner ElafRD and community members to develop a new housing project with the aim of assisting community members who lost their homes to the devasting quakes.
This community-centred shelter project will build on the success of the previous project, utilising the existing housing as a symbol of hope and resilience for vulnerable Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance. The houses are built with a separate kitchen and living area, sanitation facilities and solar panels to provide a safe and comfortable shelter for Syrians to start their journey to recovery.
We are a faith-based British international charity that provides help to people who are victims of natural disasters or conflict or suffering from poverty, hunger, disease, homelessness, injustice, deprivation or lack of skills and economic opportunities.
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