Following the cutoff of water sector support in northwestern Syria, a scabies outbreak has affected hundreds of displaced people. According to a survey conducted by the WHO, scabies disease is spreading at an unusually high rate in six areas in Idlib, where 4.2 million people live, most of them women and children, and camp residents are seven times more likely to contract scabies than those living outside.

The study, published in early May 2024, showed that 32.4 percent of camps and 51.6 percent of communities currently have scabies response services, leaving the rest of the areas without assistance despite being a top priority. The center noted that crowded living conditions and limited access to effective treatment contribute to increasing the risk of infection. In light of the current challenges, Abu Ammar, a resident of Al-Burj camp in rural Idlib, shares his experience, saying: “Most of the organizations that were supporting water projects in the camps informed us that their support ended suddenly at the beginning of June. This forced us to buy water with our own money from wells, which is one of the biggest challenges we faced considering the lack of job opportunities and the lack of funds.”

With these daily challenges increasing, WATAN Organization, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and with the support of BHA, launched a project to provide clean water in 40 camps in northern Syria, to cover the ongoing need for clean water that the residents were suffering from. The situation was improved by adding appropriate chlorine to the water provided, according to Ahmed Mansour, the Water and Sanitation Program Officer at WATAN Organization.

In addition to providing clean water services, WATAN teams provide other daily services such as transporting solid waste and emptying septic tanks, to reduce the spread of infectious diseases and to alleviate unwanted odors that increase with the rise in temperatures. Through cooperation, dedication, and under the same program, WATAN teams did not limit themselves to merely providing water but rather innovated in developing sustainable solutions that include establishing solar-powered water stations to increase the amount of water and provide it sustainably. In addition, the teams are extending sewage networks inside the camps, which will contribute to eliminating the need for septic tanks and preventing the spread of diseases resulting from them. One of the beneficiaries – Abu Ammar – expresses the impact of these efforts, saying: “Thanks to God, we no longer need to buy water by tankers, and I no longer tire myself searching for it. Now, we get water easily and conveniently, and the burdens have been reduced, and the piles of garbage and septic tanks that caused bad odors have been eliminated.”

The achievements made by WATAN teams, through previous and ongoing projects, providing water to communities and camps sustainably, are clear evidence of the importance of the ongoing efforts and continuous support from international partners and donors.

However, despite the efforts to provide these services, the need for clean water continues to increase significantly. Thousands of people in these camps live in difficult conditions, facing a severe shortage of clean water, a basic right that should never be neglected. The challenges are great, but continued work is necessary to meet the needs of these vulnerable individuals who are deprived of the basics of life. With your continued support, we can realize the dream of many displaced people in northwest Syria, and ensure sustainable access to clean and healthy water.