Damascus Countryside, Dec.02 (SANA) A community initiative in Jdeidet Artouz raised more than $2.8 million as it concluded its activities Monday, part of a locally driven effort to rehabilitate the town, enhance public services, and upgrade infrastructure.
The campaign, organised by a group of residents alongside notable figures and technical and social experts, aims to implement transparent and coordinated work plans that support the area’s development needs, from roads and sanitation to public facilities and essential services.
Speaking to SANA, Ibrahim Siyouda, advisor to the Minister of Endowments (Awqaf), said the campaign reflects the solidarity of the town’s residents and their direct contribution to reconstruction. He noted that the spread of similar initiatives in villages and towns demonstrates the citizen’s sense of partnership with the state and commitment to advancing recovery.
In a separate statement, Walid al-Masri, head of the Jdeidet Artouz Town Council, explained that the town requires essential services that depend on community support, stressing that reconstruction cannot proceed without collective effort. He said the town needs continuous backing for core services, including street-cleaning vehicles, waste collection, water wells, road paving, and full maintenance of local facilities.
Newly elected MP Ali Masoud described the campaign as a “positive and blessed initiative,” saying residents play the leading role in rebuilding their homeland. He said the campaign addresses a wide range of service and infrastructure needs across education, health, water, and electricity, with work underway to identify long-term solutions.
Muhammad Jalalovich Ali, Abkhazia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Syria, said such community efforts across liberated Syrian territories highlight the importance of Syrians themselves taking part in rebuilding their country. He noted the “new spirit” among residents and the sense of solidarity that these campaigns represent.
Similar community-driven fundraising efforts have recently been launched in several Syrian governorates and regions to promote development and support reconstruction in areas affected by destruction after liberation.
