Damascus, July 21 (SANA) Minister of Public Works and Housing Mustafa Abdel Razzaq met with Germany‘s chargé d’affaires in Damascus, Marcus Hicken, and an accompanying delegation to discuss a proposed model project for rehabilitating housing and infrastructure in damaged areas, designed to be replicable in other regions in line with national priorities, the ministry said.
The delegation included Marcel Klemm, portfolio manager at Germany’s KfW Development Bank, and representatives from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UN-Habitat.
Abdel Razzaq expressed appreciation for German support and humanitarian positions toward the Syrian people, affirming the ministry’s ambition to develop partnerships during the early recovery and reconstruction phase and benefit from international expertise in urban planning and infrastructure development to improve services and prepare conditions for the return of displaced persons and refugees.
Hicken reaffirmed his country’s commitment to continued coordination and support for Syrian efforts in housing and stability, while the technical team outlined that the proposed project focuses on an integrated rehabilitation model accompanied by capacity building for government institutions and the development of planning mechanisms that consider local needs.
Technical meeting to follow
Both sides agreed to hold a technical meeting in the coming days to discuss project details and develop implementation mechanisms.
The talks are part of the ministry’s efforts to accelerate early recovery in housing and essential services through partnerships with international organizations and development agencies to apply sustainable planning models in damaged areas, supporting community stability and the return of residents.
The proposed project aligns with broader international efforts to support Syria’s recovery. In July 2025, the German government announced an additional €240 million in aid for reconstruction projects in Syria, with a focus on essential infrastructure, housing and early recovery. Germany’s KfW Development Bank has been a key partner in Syria’s reconstruction, supporting projects in water and sanitation, renewable energy and municipal infrastructure development.
The UN-Habitat has been active in Syria since 2013, with its Syria Programme focused on sustainable urban recovery, housing land and property rights, and early recovery. UN-Habitat has implemented projects in Aleppo, Homs and other war-affected cities in partnership with local authorities. The UNDP’s Syria Recovery and Resilience Programme has supported livelihood recovery, early recovery, and infrastructure rehabilitation across Syria.
KfW Development Bank has been implementing the Emergency Housing Support for Returnees project in Syria since 2022, providing housing rehabilitation support and cash assistance to vulnerable returnees.
Kh.A / H.H
