As part of the response to the humanitarian needs of families returning to the Ras Al-Ain / Sere Kaniyeh area in Al-Hasakah Governorate, and in line with the Syrian Government’s priorities to support returnees living outside camps, the Dan Foundation for Relief and Development (DRD) distributed 230 Non-Food Item (NFI) kits to a number of families who had recently returned to the Ras Al-Ain / Sere Kaniyeh area in northwestern Al-Hasakah Governorate.

This response was implemented in coordination and cooperation with the Ras Al-Ain Area Administration and the Directorate of Social Affairs and Labour, with the aim of contributing to meeting the basic needs of returning families and supporting stabilization and recovery efforts.

The Dan Foundation extends its sincere thanks and appreciation to the Ras Al-Ain Area Administration and the Directorate of Social Affairs and Labour, as well as to our donor partners who supported this assistance, for their cooperation, support, and facilitation of this humanitarian response.

Data-Driven Response

The “Dan for Relief and Development” Foundation has successfully completed the preparation of the “Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) Report” for 2026 in the rural countryside of Ras al-Ain / Sere Kaniye district, Al-Hasakah Governorate. This comprehensive assessment serves as a strategic tool providing a credible and reliable knowledge baseline to assist UN agencies, international organizations, and humanitarian funds active in Syria in designing and planning sectoral and sustainable response programs that address current urgent needs, while supporting preparedness building to receive the expected return of displaced persons to their villages and original areas in the coming period.

The assessment was implemented in full coordination and collaboration with the Directorate of Social Affairs and Labor in Al-Hasakah, the Directorate of Ras al-Ain / Sere Kaniye District, and in close partnership with local stakeholders and community leaders to ensure the comprehensiveness of field data. The field data collection process was carried out during the period from July 5 to 13, 2026.

Methodology and Knowledge Impact

The assessment adopted a mixed-methods approach to ensure indicator accuracy; it included a field survey of 365 households (comprising 2,099 individuals) spread across 5 rural villages, cross-referenced with 19 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to cover 13 humanitarian and vital sectors.

Critical Sectoral Gaps (Key Assessment Findings):

Livelihoods and Economic Emergency: The community is experiencing a structural economic emergency; 88.5% of households suffer from a continuous monthly financial deficit (expenditures exceeding income), while 83.3% of households were severely affected by currency depreciation, making poverty and inflation the primary driver of 94.2% of community tensions and local stability challenges.

Protection and Humanitarian Security Gaps: The assessment identified a critical protection gap, as 89.6% of the population had not received any Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), alongside alarming indicators regarding child labor (54%) and early and forced marriage of girls (52.1%).

Water Quality and Environmental Gap (WASH): Although network coverage reaches 92.9%, the real gap lies in water safety; 96.7% of households do not apply any form of drinking water treatment, with 41.6% reporting a noticeable decrease in available water quantity.

Health and Education Gaps: 53.4% of households faced real barriers in accessing basic medical care due to the high cost of treatment and medicine, which parallels an educational crisis; 41.1% of households suffer from partial or complete child dropout from education due to direct financial burdens.

The assessment adopted a mixed-methods approach to ensure indicator accuracy; it included a field survey of 365 households (comprising 2,099 individuals) spread across 5 rural villages, cross-referenced with 19 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to cover 13 humanitarian and vital sectors.

The report provides a clear roadmap for international funding and implementing agencies to intervene through integrated programs that balance emergency response and early recovery support:

· Livelihoods and Food Security: Expand multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) programs and urgent food aid to cover the monthly household deficit and alleviate immediate economic pressures.

· Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Promotion: Focus on ensuring water quality at points of use, rehabilitating existing networks, and supporting the operation of pumping stations through sustainable energy sources (such as solar energy, which is currently available at 94.7% in targeted locations).

· Protection and Mine Action: Launch urgent Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) campaigns targeting agricultural fields and pastures to ensure the safety of returnees and local residents, while strengthening traditional local mediation mechanisms trusted by over 89% of the community.

· Health and Education: Re-supply primary healthcare centers with essential and chronic medicines, support education costs (safe transportation, stationery) to reduce school dropout rates among adolescent girls, and incentivize cash-for-work programs to support damaged infrastructure.

The “Dan for Relief and Development” Foundation extends its thanks and appreciation to government entities for overcoming obstacles and facilitating humanitarian access to ensure the success of this assessment. We affirm our full readiness for joint cooperation and coordination with international partners and UN agencies to invest these field data in formulating effective response plans that support the resilience of vulnerable communities and prepare the ground for a sustainable and safe return

With funding from the Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) through the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and under the Syria Joint Response (SJR) Consortium, DAN Foundation for Relief and Development, in partnership with Dorcas Syria, completed the distribution of food baskets to families affected by the Euphrates River floods in Al-Bukamal, southeastern rural Deir Ezzor

As part of the emergency flood response supporting affected communities in Deir Ezzor Governorate, the intervention reached several affected villages and areas, with 1,200 food baskets distributed to 1,200 families, as follows
• Al-Ramadi: 206 food baskets
• Al-Jalaa: 204 food baskets
• Eastern Al-Sayyal: 190 food baskets
• Western Al-Sayyal: 195 food baskets
• Al-Qataa: 202 food baskets
• Al-Salihiyah: 203 food baskets
This response is part of DAN Foundation’s efforts to provide urgent food assistance to families affected by natural disasters and help alleviate the humanitarian and economic impact of the floods

The intervention was implemented in coordination with relevant local, humanitarian, and community stakeholders. Meetings were held with the Directorate of International Cooperation and the Directorate of Social Affairs and Labor in Deir Ezzor, and the necessary approvals and procedures were completed before implementation.
Coordination also took place with the administration of Al-Bukamal district, municipalities, community committees, local mukhtars, and community leaders in the targeted areas. Coordination meetings were held before the distribution to support an organized response and ensure assistance reached eligible affected families.

As part of its efforts to raise community awareness and reduce risks threatening children’s lives, the Dan Foundation for Relief and Development conducted awareness sessions targeting students at the Hijin Educational Center in the Deir ez-Zor countryside. This comes amid challenges posed by drowning incidents in water bodies and floods, in addition to the dangers of landmines and explosive ordnance left over from wars, which continue to pose a direct threat to human security and community safety.

The sessions were delivered by the center’s teachers and focused on raising children’s awareness of the dangers of drowning in the Euphrates River, while introducing the safety procedures to be followed, especially during periods of high water levels and floods. The sessions also included educating children about the risks of landmines and suspicious or unfamiliar objects, emphasizing the importance of not approaching or tampering with them, and reporting them to the relevant authorities through safe channels, thereby contributing to reducing incidents and protecting lives.

A total of 218 male and female students benefited from these sessions, in a step that reflects the foundation’s commitment to reaching the broadest possible segment of children and enhancing their ability to cope with risks in their daily environment.

These activities come as part of the foundation’s efforts to instill a culture of safety and prevention among children, empowering them to acquire the knowledge and skills that help them recognize the risks around them and make informed decisions that contribute to protecting themselves and others.

On Sunday, the Dan Relief and Development Foundation (DRD), in partnership with the War Child organization, and in coordination with the Directorate of International Cooperation in Deir ez-Zor, the Directorate of Social Affairs and Labor in Deir ez-Zor, and the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management – Deir ez-Zor Directorate, carried out an urgent and immediate response to ensure rapid material relief and the immediate stabilization of psychological and emotional well-being for populations severely affected by the Euphrates River flood crisis

Following the sharp rise in the river’s water level, which caused the complete or partial submersion of low-lying areas and sudden displacement in the governorate, our field teams successfully deployed and delivered an integrated emergency aid package targeting 298 vulnerable families, combining urgent cash assistance with vital protection services.

Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA): In line with the project’s emergency intervention framework, each targeted family was provided with an unconditional cash grant of $150 USD. This took place in the western countryside of Deir ez-Zor, in the areas of (Shagra – 192 families, Al-Kubar – 50 families, Zugheir Jazira – 22 families, Hawayej Bou Musa – 9 families, Jazrat Milaj – 25 families).

This support aims to provide immediate material relief, granting affected families the dignity of choice and sufficient flexibility to purchase basic necessities, remove debris, and meet the survival and recovery needs they identify themselves.

Psychological Support and Risk Awareness: Parallel to the financial support, mobile protection teams conducted emergency response sessions for psychological first aid and integrated risk awareness sessions targeting the same families. These sessions focused on reducing the severity of immediate acute psychological distress, supporting mental well-being, and raising awareness among parents, caregivers, and community representatives about the dangerous conditions of the river course to prevent tragic drowning incidents.

Through this life-saving local intervention, DRD remains committed to upholding protection principles and preserving the dignity of flood-affected families during this emergency phase

As part of a women’s empowerment project in Raqqa and Al-Hasakah, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the Dan Foundation for Relief and Development conducted a training course on disaster risk reduction. The course took place at the foundation’s center for “Disaster Risk Reduction and Gender-Based Violence Activities” in the village of Sanjak Saadoun, rural Amuda, and lasted for three days

The training targeted two groups, each consisting of 8 female participants from the same village and surrounding areas. It focused on strengthening the capacities of emergency response teams for disaster risk reduction, led by women.

The course covered key topics, including: disaster risk management and local hazards, safety and security during emergencies, fire prevention and suppression, flood preparedness and response, first aid and emergency response, and community awareness and preparedness.

The training combined theoretical sessions with practical exercises, enabling participants to gain the knowledge and hands-on skills necessary for emergency response.

On the final day, essential disaster risk reduction toolkits were distributed to the participants to support their preparedness and enhance their ability to respond effectively within their communities. The materials provided to each participant included: a firefighting suit, thermal safety boots, thermal gloves, a helmet, a face shield, a 12 kg powder fire extinguisher, and a first aid kit.

This training course is part of the Dan Foundation for Relief and Development’s efforts to strengthen local communities’ ability to face disasters and reduce their impacts, by building women’s capacities and enabling them to play active roles in emergency response and protecting their communities. Such interventions contribute to enhancing community readiness and spreading a culture of prevention and preparedness, positively affecting individual safety and the sustainability of local development.

The foundation believes that investing in women’s capacities and equipping them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools is a fundamental pillar for building more resilient communities capable of facing challenges and crises, thereby strengthening women’s role as key partners in protecting society and supporting recovery and development pathways

As part of its efforts to enhance community readiness and rapid emergency response, the Dan Relief and Development Foundation has recently completed the distribution of disaster response and firefighting equipment in the town of Hajjira in Rural Damascus

This intervention comes within the context of strengthening local communities’ ability to face risks and mitigate the impact of fires and natural disasters
The activity involved 20 beneficiaries from two pre-selected groups who had been trained in fire and natural disaster response methods before being provided with integrated equipment sufficient for 10 individuals among the trainees, including
(Firefighting suits – Protective helmets – Heat-resistant boots – Fire extinguishers)

This program aims to develop qualified community teams capable of immediate intervention to protect lives and property, and to enhance local emergency response
These initiatives reflect the foundation’s commitment to strengthening community readiness and building beneficiaries’ capacities to ensure a safer and more resilient environment against disasters

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Dan Foundation for Relief and Development completed the distribution of cash assistance to families displaced by the recent events and residing in several shelters in the city of Qamishli, with support from the War Child foundation

The distribution covered 219 families across 9 shelters, with each family receiving $150 USD, as part of the humanitarian response to the urgent needs of affected families

The foundation targeted families residing in the following centers: Maan bin Zaid School, Abd al-Ahad Younan School, the Teacher Training Institute, Muhammad Hussein Mustafa School, Ibrahim Hanano School (elementary and middle levels), Ararat Nursery, Lahdo Masoud School, and Ali bin Abi Talib School

This response followed continuous coordination with foundations operating in the region since the onset of the displacement wave, aiming to organize efforts and ensure that humanitarian services effectively reach those who deserve them

Enhancing Protection in Shelters

In parallel with the distribution efforts, the foundation carried out awareness sessions targeting women, men, and adolescents within the shelters, focusing on raising awareness of protection risks, beneficiary rights, and safe access pathways to services

The sessions addressed key principles, most notably the right to receive assistance without any form of compensation, the rejection of all forms of exploitation, and the promotion of a culture of safe reporting. The awareness activities also highlighted the importance of child protection, the risks of gender-based violence, and ways to access available support services with confidentiality and dignity

These activities are part of the foundation’s ongoing efforts to foster a safe and supportive environment for all shelter residents

Dan Foundation for Relief and Development has completed the implementation of an activity to distribute disaster response and firefighting equipment kits in the villages of Al-Yarmouk and Al-Jarbou’ in rural Al-Raqqa. This step aims to strengthen the readiness of local communities to respond rapidly to fire risks and natural disasters
The activity targeted 10 beneficiaries selected from members of Al-Nour and Khirbet Al-Anab cooperatives, with five beneficiaries from each cooperative. They were nominated to participate as part of specialized teams formed specifically for this purpose
The distributed equipment included a comprehensive set of safety and protection tools, such as heat-resistant boots, helmets equipped with face and neck protection, 12 kg dry powder fire extinguishers, in addition to full firefighting suits, ensuring that the teams are well-prepared to handle various emergency situations

Prior to the distribution, beneficiaries received practical training focused on disaster response mechanisms and firefighting methods, which contributed to enhancing their efficiency and enabling them to effectively deal with potential risks in their areas
This activity comes as part of the Foundation’s efforts to strengthen the capacities of local communities and to build volunteer teams capable of protecting lives and property, and responding effectively to emergency challenges in rural Al-Raqqa

Amid the challenges of displacement and humanitarian crises, carefully directed initiatives continue to play a vital role in easing the suffering of affected families

In this context, the DAN Foundation for Relief and Development, in cooperation with the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) and with funding from the Kingdom of Norway, has distributed multi‑purpose cash assistance (MPCA) to displaced people residing in collective shelters in the city of Qamishli. The operation targeted 11 shelters, covering 300 families, each of whom received a one‑time payment of 150 USD at the beginning of March

Additionally, at the end of February, the Foundation completed the fourth round of distributing 130 ready‑to‑eat (RTE) food baskets to 130 displaced families living in seven collective shelters in the city of Hasakah

Through these rapid interventions, DAN reaffirms its commitment to providing essential support to community members during times of crisis, demonstrating its ability to respond swiftly and effectively to urgent needs—thus solidifying its role as a leading actor in humanitarian response across affected areas