Qatar constructs two new villages for IDPs in northwest Syria

The Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) opened two new "villages" for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in rebel-held northwest Syria this week, in the latest outreach to those affected in the war-torn country.

The two new settlements, which contain 600 residential apartments altogether, were established in the Kafr Jales area west of Idlib city.  

QRCS have previously constructed 15 other villages in northwest Syria in recent years, in an effort to improve the living conditions of Syrian IDPs in the impoverished region, which has been heavily bombed by the Assad regime in recent years.

The projects have contributed to improving the lives of around 22,000 people, in addition to providing over 7,000 job opportunities, Mohamed Ahmed Al-Bishri, QRCS' director of communication and fundraising, told The New Arab's Arabic-language sister site  Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

The new villages will feature schools, mosques, parks and playgrounds for children, and are forging a new model of humanitarian accommodation.

The villages are seen as providing a practical solution to the suffering of internally displaced Syrians, millions of whom have been suffering for years in tent camps lacking basic essentials and services.  

Around four million people live in rebel-held Idlib province, over half of them displaced from other parts of Syria.

The number of Syrian IDPs living in an estimated 1,833 camps (including both formal and informal camps) across northwest Syria is believed to exceed two million.

Mohammed Hadid, who fled Deir ez-Zor in 2016 and was living in a camp before moving into one of the new villages, said: "Life in apartments can't be compared with life in the tents. Here we have walls, rooves, and tiles. In the tent we don't know when it will pour with rain or it will get colder; a house is better by far".

The humanitarian housing sector is a vital component of international aid efforts to assist the displaced in northwest Syria, as displaced people need decent housing to live in dignity and safety.

Suitable housing also improves the health of IDPs, supports psychological and social stability, and enhances educational opportunities for students.

New villages in Qabasin and Akhtarin

Besides Idlib province, QRCS has previously built residential villages in Qabasin and Akhtarin in rebel-held parts of Aleppo province, each containing around 300 apartments.

Each village contains a number of residential blocks, and every block is formed of three multi-storey apartment buildings.

Ahmad Al Qasem fled Tadmor in 2017 and has now moved into a new apartment after residing in shelters for years.

"Life in the shelter was really hard because it was so cramped and lacked basic services like water and electricity. Today, thanks to God and then to the Qatari Red Crescent, we have a house, which gives us some dignity and rest," he told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

This article is based on an article which appeared in our Arabic edition by Adnan Emam and Abdullah al-Bashir on 18 November 2024. To read the original article click here.