Dignified and secure shelter for displaced families

Syria | 2024| CERF

Northwest Syria. After thirteen years of conflict, hundreds of thousands of people live in displacement in Syria, in conditions that were meant to be temporary. For Um Musab, in her late fifties, a flimsy tent has been her home for over four years. She shared the space with her daughter and grandchildren. It wasn’t private and it was certainly not comfortable.

"In the summer, we suffered from extreme heat inside the tent. We were afraid of cooking in case the tent burns down,” she explains. “I struggled to keep my children safe from insects, snakes, and scorpions that might get in."

Um Musab was also very concerned about privacy. "Conversations between family members could be heard from outside the tents. Without a lock, security was a concern, especially since we are all women and children here.”

After the earthquakes that struck in 2023, the International Organization for Migration and Syrian partner Social Development International constructed new and more dignified shelters for 500 vulnerable families across the region, thanks to funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund.

Um Musab and her family were able to move into one of these new units – offering durability, protection from harsh weather, and much-needed privacy and security.

While life isn’t easy, the new peace of mind makes a difference. "Now we have a door, a window, and a wall we can lean on. There is a lock and key, and we now have a kitchen, a sink, and a bathroom. An incredible difference," adds Um Muhammad.

Posted November 2024

Based on an original story from IOM Syria

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