New York, Feb.5 (SANA) The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the German government, through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in cooperation with the German Development Bank, have entered into a cooperation agreement under which Germany has provided a €15 million grant to improve access to safe, reliable and sustainable water and sanitation services for children and communities across Syria.
In a statement published on its official website on Tuesday, UNICEF said the grant will support the organization, in cooperation with Syria’s Ministry of Energy and relevant water authorities, in rehabilitating vital water supply infrastructure, wastewater treatment facilities, improving the efficiency of water systems, and strengthening operation and maintenance capacities.
According to the statement, the project will invest in updating hydrogeological studies and implementing solutions that enhance resilience to climate change, helping communities adapt to increasing water scarcity and environmental pressures.
More than 2.3 million people in priority governorates are expected to benefit from the intervention, with a particular focus on children, returnees and the most vulnerable communities. The project is also expected to improve public health, ease the burden on families, and create conditions that enable children to grow, learn and thrive through the restoration of essential services.
UNICEF Representative in Syria, Meritxell Relano Arana, told SANA that access to safe water is essential for children’s survival and dignity. She noted that UNICEF, by working with national institutions and international partners, is investing in climate-resilient water systems that protect children today and support Syria’s recovery in the future.
Relano said the new financial contribution strengthens the close partnership between UNICEF and the Syrian government to rehabilitate and modernize national water systems on which families depend daily. She explained that, through joint work with the Ministry of Energy and local water institutions, efforts will shift from temporary solutions to sustainable investments that communities can manage, maintain and withstand climate change.
She emphasized that strengthening national systems remains the most effective way to ensure that every child, in all governorates, has access to safe water and sanitation services, reaffirming UNICEF’s continued commitment to supporting Syria’s recovery in cooperation with its partners.
Head of the Middle East Division at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Anette Schmass, said: “We highly value the strong partnership between the Ministry and UNICEF, which has enabled the restoration of sustainable access to clean drinking water for more than 4.1 million people in Syria since 2021, including displaced and returning families.”
She added that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving people’s lives and strengthening the resilience of the communities most in need in Syria.
