On the Banks of the Euphrates… Responding to the Call and Racing with Aid

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