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 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 the “Colors of Peace” initiative, the Dan Foundation for Relief and Development conducted a series of awareness sessions in several schools and social centers in Al-Hasakah city. The aim was to enhance community awareness among adolescents regarding the dangers of landmines and war remnants

The initiative’s team carried out 11 awareness sessions targeting adolescent students, focusing on several key themes, most notably

· The dangers of landmines and war remnants
· The dangers of using weapons
· Safe behaviors and preventive measures
· Promoting the values of peace and social responsibility

These sessions were implemented in coordination with school administrations and social centers, with active participation from influential members of the local community, including teachers, counselors, and community activists. This contributed to enhancing the acceptance of the awareness messages and ensuring their relevance to the local context

In addition, the foundation organized supportive community activities within the schools, including art competitions for children and adolescents centered around concepts of peace, safety, and the rejection of violence, through drawing and artistic expression. These activities formed a complementary part of the awareness sessions, giving students the opportunity to express their understanding of the presented messages through creative methods, thus helping to establish the concepts of peace and safety in an interactive and impactful manner

These activities fall under the mine risk awareness and war remnants project being implemented by the foundation in the cities of Al-Hasakah and Al-Shaddadi, aiming to enhance community safety and support the most vulnerable groups

As part of its rapid response to the urgent needs of displaced people in Al‑Hasakah city, DAN Foundation for Relief and Development concluded, at the end of last February, the fourth round of distributing 130 Ready‑to‑Eat (RTE) food baskets to 130 displaced families residing in seven collective shelters across the city.

The distribution, which continued for a full month at a rate of one round per week, was carried out in cooperation with Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), Funded by the Government of Norway within the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to support those affected by the recent events in the area.

This emergency intervention aims to provide direct food assistance to displaced families living under harsh conditions and lacking basic necessities, helping to alleviate their suffering and support their ability to cope with daily challenges.

This distribution comes as part of DAN’s Emergency Response Program for Displaced People, which includes the provision of various urgent basic services to ensure the preservation of dignity for affected individuals under such difficult circumstances.

Through these rapid interventions, DAN Foundation continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing essential support to community members during times of crisis, reaffirming its ability to respond swiftly and effectively to emergency needs, and strengthening its leading role in humanitarian response in affected areas.

During the holy month of Ramadan, many families face increasing economic challenges. Here, humanitarian work emerges as a core value reflecting the spirit of solidarity and mutual support, embodying the meanings of mercy and giving in their most profound forms

In this context, DAN for Relief and Development has implemented the first round of the “Ramadan Food Basket” initiative by distributing a number of food parcels in several neighborhoods of Al-Hasakah city, targeting some of the most needy families.

The distribution process included 25 parcels containing essential food items, along with providing a sum of 100,000 Syrian Pounds to help secure necessary supplies. The initiative benefited families headed by widowed women and families including individuals with special needs. This step aims to alleviate living burdens and enhance feelings of security and stability during the holy month.

This initiative reaffirms the organization’s commitment to its humanitarian and social responsibility and its continuous dedication to standing by the most vulnerable groups, believing that solidarity is not a fleeting season but a permanent message it seeks to instill through its various programs and activities.