As part of its efforts to promote health awareness and encourage women and girls to take care of their health, Dan Foundation for Relief and Development distributed breast cancer awareness brochures to women and girls in the Military Quarter and downtown Al-Hasakah, marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, known as “Pink October.”

The brochures provided awareness information about the nature of breast cancer, its associated risk factors, and the main signs and symptoms that require medical attention. They also highlighted the importance of early detection in increasing the chances of successful treatment and reducing the risk of the disease spreading.

The awareness materials also highlighted early detection methods, including mammography and clinical breast examinations, as well as the importance of paying attention to any new or unusual changes in the breasts. The materials emphasized that most breast lumps are not cancerous; however, they require medical evaluation to provide reassurance and determine the underlying cause.

The brochures also covered a range of recommendations that may help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, including engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, following a balanced diet, and undergoing appropriate screening based on age and personal and family medical history. In addition, they introduced the main treatment options determined by doctors according to the type and stage of the disease and the patient’s overall health condition.

This initiative reaffirms the importance of health awareness in empowering women and girls with accurate information about breast cancer and encouraging them to take proactive steps to protect their health. It also contributes to promoting a culture of early detection and increasing the chances of identifying the disease in its earliest stages.

Dan for Relief and Development Foundation continues to implement the “Be There” program sessions in the Foundation’s safe space at Washokani Camp, west of Al-Hasakah. As of mid-August, the sessions have reached 205 participants, including 43 men and 162 women

The program focuses on helping caregivers cope with daily stress, particularly amid challenging circumstances that may affect their ability to provide effective care and parenting to children.
The program aims to achieve several key objectives, including:
Reducing daily stress through relaxation and stress-management techniques, such as mindfulness and breathing exercises.
Strengthening social support networks and supportive relationships.
Improving the ability to cope with difficult emotions, including frustration and anger.
Reducing parenting-related stress and promoting the use of positive parenting approaches.
Reducing the use of harsh parenting practices and fostering a safer and more supportive family environment for children.

The program aims to support parents and caregivers of children by helping them reduce stress, improve their psychosocial well-being, and strengthen their positive parenting skills.
Through the “Be There” program, we work to promote family well-being and support caregivers in building more positive and safe relationships with their children.

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

As part of efforts to strengthen community awareness of the dangers posed by explosive remnants of war (ERW), and through coordination between the Education Sector, the Child Protection Sector, and the Mine Action Sector in Deir ez-Zor, under the supervision of UNICEF, a representative from Dan for Relief and Development (DRD) participated in a specialized five-day training on Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE).

The training aimed to strengthen participants’ capacities in raising awareness about the risks of unexploded ordnance and landmines, while equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver life-saving risk education messages to local communities, helping reduce accidents and injuries caused by explosive remnants of war.

Building on the knowledge and skills gained during the training, DRD conducted two EORE awareness sessions at its Learning Center in Hajin, eastern rural Deir ez-Zor, targeting both children and adults. The sessions introduced participants to different types of explosive remnants, landmines and their characteristics, while highlighting the safe behaviors to follow when encountering suspicious objects, thereby promoting a culture of safety and prevention within the community.

DRD also received two EORE training kits to support future awareness activities and expand outreach to communities most at risk.

The Importance of Explosive Ordnance Risk Education

Years of conflict in Syria have left behind a dangerous legacy of explosive remnants of war (ERW), which remain scattered across many areas. Their impact did not end with the conflict; they continue to pose a direct threat to civilians and hinder recovery and stabilization efforts.

Syria is considered one of the countries most heavily contaminated by explosive remnants of war. Estimates indicate that more than 324,000 items of unexploded ordnance remain across the country. These hazardous remnants have caused the deaths and injuries of thousands of civilians, as well as permanent disabilities and limb amputations, creating significant humanitarian, economic, and psychological challenges for individuals, families, and communities.

DRD reaffirms its commitment to continuing community-based awareness activities in partnership with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the protection of children and families, reduce the risks posed by explosive remnants of war, and contribute to building safer and more resilient communities.

Dan for Relief and Development (DRD) has officially launched the activities of the Survivor and Community-Led Response (SCLR) groups in the Military Neighborhood of Al-Hasakah City as part of the project, “Supporting Localization Efforts in Northeast Syria through Empowering Partners and Local Communities to Lead Survivor and Community-Led Response (SCLR) and Community-Based Protection Programming (CBPP).” The project is being implemented from January to December 2026.
The launch of the community group in the Military Neighborhood marks the beginning of the project’s field implementation. The project aims to strengthen the protective environment, improve safety, and enhance the resilience of conflict-affected communities by empowering local communities to lead response efforts, improve community-based interventions, and increase access to specialized protection services.

“Communities Lead the Response and Create the Solutions”
The project is based on the Survivor and Community-Led Response (SCLR) approach, which places local communities at the center of humanitarian action and enables community members to take the lead in identifying their needs, analyzing priorities, and designing initiatives that directly address those needs. This approach promotes meaningful community participation while fostering sustainable, locally driven solutions.
This activity represents the project’s core component, targeting seven community groups—three in Al-Hasakah Governorate and four in Ar-Raqqa Governorate—with a total of 84 women and men representing diverse community groups, including women, men, internally displaced persons (IDPs), host community members, and persons with disabilities, ensuring inclusive participation in community leadership and decision-making.

“Building the Capacity of Community Groups to Lead Local Initiatives“
Group members are participating in a comprehensive capacity-building programme covering the SCLR/GCT methodology, including risk and capacity analysis, community mapping, problem analysis, and community action planning.
The programme also includes specialized protection training on protection mainstreaming, safe referral pathways, child protection and safeguarding, and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).
In addition, participants receive training in key management skills, including resource management, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, and community mobilization and advocacy, enabling them to effectively design, implement, and sustain community-led initiatives.

“From Identifying Needs to Implementing Community Initiatives“
Following the completion of the training programme, the groups will move into the implementation phase. Using participatory SCLR tools, they will assess the realities of their communities, identify priority needs, design community-led initiatives, manage available resources, implement activities, and monitor results directly.
This approach ensures that initiatives are genuinely community-driven and responsive to locally identified priorities, strengthening community ownership, promoting a culture of participation, and enhancing resilience in the face of ongoing challenges.

“Integrated Protection Programmes to Maximize Impact”
Alongside the Survivor and Community-Led Response activities, the project will implement a range of community-based protection programmes aimed at improving the well-being of children and families in Al-Hasakah and Ar-Raqqa Governorates.
The project will provide structured psychosocial support (PSS) services for 250 children through specialized curricula that focus on developing life and social skills, strengthening mental well-being, and helping children cope with the effects of crises.
In addition, 600 children and caregivers will participate in community awareness sessions designed to increase knowledge of child protection, positive parenting, psychosocial support, and risk mitigation, contributing to a safer and more supportive environment for children.
The project also includes case management and safe referral services targeting children and their caregivers to ensure access to appropriate protection support.

“Towards More Resilient Communities”
This project reflects Dan for Relief and Development’s vision of placing local communities at the heart of humanitarian response and sustainable development by empowering them to identify their priorities and lead initiatives that address their own needs.
With the launch of the first community group in the Military Neighborhood of Al-Hasakah City, the project takes its first practical step toward strengthening social cohesion, supporting localization efforts, and building more resilient communities capable of overcoming challenges and shaping their future through their own capacities and local resources.

As part of its efforts to promote public health and prevent diseases, the Dan Foundation for Relief and Development carried out the “Step Towards a Healthy Community” initiative in Al-Jazra Camp in the Deir ez-Zor countryside, through its Health and Community Safety Committees, with the participation of the health team from the Dan Center in the Al-Jazrat area

The initiative came in response to the importance of raising health and environmental awareness in reducing the spread of waterborne diseases, foremost among them cholera, thereby contributing to protecting the most vulnerable groups and enhancing the community’s capacity to adopt preventive practices.

The initiative, which lasted a full week, targeted the residents and families of Al-Jazra Camp, with a focus on children, women, and the elderly. Activities included distributing awareness brochures, conducting five educational sessions covering cholera symptoms, transmission methods, and preventive measures to be followed, along with 30 home visits to reinforce health messages and answer families’ inquiries.

The initiative also focused on encouraging families to apply proper health practices, including regular disinfection of water tanks and maintaining personal and household hygiene, to reduce the risks of disease transmission.

As part of the initiative’s activities, an interactive program for children was implemented to instill personal hygiene habits, alongside a community environmental cleanup campaign in which a number of camp residents participated, aimed at fostering shared responsibility for maintaining a healthy and safe environment.

This initiative reflects the foundation’s commitment to supporting local communities by enhancing health awareness, embedding a culture of prevention, and empowering individuals to adopt practices that contribute to protecting their own health and that of their communities.

Dan continues to implement its humanitarian and development programs aimed at building more aware communities capable of facing health and environmental challenges, based on its belief that prevention and knowledge are the foundation for achieving sustainable development and improving quality of life.

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.

As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance women’s protection and empower them economically and socially, the DAN Foundation for Relief and Development launched a vocational training program in tailoring within the safe space for women and girls at the foundation’s center in the Al-Sabha area in the Deir ez-Zor countryside.

The training began in June with the participation of 20 women returnees from Al-Hol Camp and will continue over a period of two months, as part of a series of activities implemented by the foundation to support the most vulnerable women and help them build a more stable future.

The program aims to equip participants with essential professional skills in tailoring, enabling them to enter the labor market or launch their own small projects in the future, in addition to providing the necessary tools to help them begin their professional journey.

The training also contributes to enhancing self-reliance, creating opportunities for sustainable income sources, as well as supporting the psychological and social recovery of participants and strengthening their integration into their local communities, thereby reinforcing the role of women as active partners in the recovery and development process.

DAN continues to implement programs aimed at empowering women and girls, stemming from its belief that capacity building and creating economic opportunities are essential pillars for achieving sustainable recovery and strengthening social cohesion.

As part of the Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) program, the DAN for Relief and Development (DRD) has installed five large billboards in several roads and vital locations in Al-Hasakah Governorate. This initiative aims to raise community awareness of the risks posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO) and explosive remnants of war (ERW), while promoting safe behavior among all segments of the population

The billboards are located at “Zouri Roundabout” at the southern entrance of Qamishli city, in the middle of the Ghaibesh road in Tal Tamr town, as well as three billboards within Al-Hasakah city at: Al-Ghazl Roundabout, Panorama Roundabout, and the middle of the road in Mashirfa opposite the Shatto Garden

The activity focused on providing permanent visual awareness materials in public, high-traffic areas with significant community movement, helping to deliver safety messages to the largest possible number of residents and enhancing awareness of risks associated with suspicious objects and explosive ordnance

The billboards feature clear and simple illustrations that ensure messages reach both literate and non-literate individuals, alongside written awareness messages and practical guidelines on safe behavior and reporting mechanisms when encountering suspicious objects or war remnants

This activity aims to provide continuous, easy-to-understand, and accessible public safety messages, helping community members recognize the dangers of explosive ordnance and take appropriate action if they encounter any suspicious objects, thereby contributing to the reduction of related accidents and injuries

The content of the billboards was developed to ensure cultural appropriateness and effectiveness for all age and social groups, including children and adults, as part of a sustained commitment to promoting a culture of community safety

These permanent reminder billboards help deliver clear, visual, and consistent awareness messages to a wide range of residents, particularly those most at risk, thereby supporting explosive ordnance risk education efforts and reinforcing safe behaviors within the community

This activity falls within the organization’s efforts to protect civilians and reduce the risks of explosive-related accidents through sustainable awareness tools that contribute to building a more aware and safer community

As part of its ongoing efforts to promote social cohesion and peacebuilding, the DAN for Relief & Development (DRD) implemented an initiative to establish the Jarat Al-Milaj football field in rural Deir ez-Zor. This was carried out by the Community Protection team, with active participation from the Women’s and Youth Committees.

The initiative included field rehabilitation and preparation works. The team leveled and marked the field, provided goalposts, nets, footballs, sports kits, in addition to the trophy and medals for the sports tournament.

As a culmination of the initiative, the “Love Sports Tournament” was held at the Al-Seela field in the village of Jarat Al-Milaj. The event took place in a spirited atmosphere with notable public attendance, featuring eight sports teams from neighboring villages, divided into two groups.

Group one included: Inter Al-Milaj, Al-Kabir, Abu Khashab, and Al-Risalah (Bu Humed).
Group two included: Ahli Al-Milaj, Al-Ittihad (Ma’adan), Ahmar Bu Humed, and Al-Bushams.

The tournament witnessed strong competitions characterized by sportsmanship and significant audience engagement. The final match was contested between Inter Al-Milaj and Al-Kabir in a cautious and competitive game, attended by over 3,000 spectators from the area.

The regular time ended in a goalless draw, and the result was decided by penalty shootouts, with Al-Kabir winning 3–2 to become the champion of the “Love Sports Tournament,” celebrated joyfully by their fans and supporters.

This initiative reaffirmed the positive role of sports in promoting a culture of peace and building bridges of love and brotherhood among community components. It also contributed to creating a safe, inclusive space for youth and families. Today, the Jarat Al-Milaj field has become a place for community gathering and cohesion, and a symbol of hope and cooperation among