Oxfam to expand Syrian crisis response by renewing agreement with Damascus

The international agency is currently helping to provide water for more than a million people across conflict lines by drilling new wells and repairing old and damaged water networks.  

Last week a state-of-the-art treatment plant in Salamyah, Hama, was completed to remove naturally present hydrogen sulphide and saline salts in the town’s groundwater supply. By using reverse osmosis the plant can now provide enough drinking water for 35,000 people from the previously redundant Sinaa well.

Speaking from Damascus, chief executive of Oxfam GB, Mark Goldring, said: “Meetings with government ministers were constructive and highlighted the need to scale up the response. However, I also made clear Oxfam continues to have grave concerns about the impact of the conduct of the conflict on ordinary Syrians, and the need for greater humanitarian access to the people affected.”

Oxfam is aiming to expand its program from supplying water to providing toilet and washing facilities, as well as hygiene promotion, to some of the millions of displaced people across the country, many living in unfinished and disused buildings. “For us to do our job as humanitarians properly, we need to work more closely with the communities we are helping,” said Goldring.

In Aleppo, one of the hardest hit areas, Oxfam has supplied water by road, and is working to permanently boost the water supply with a huge 6 meter-long 2000KvA generator, which will power the pumps from the main wells and allow improved water to up to a million people.  

Oxfam is facing a number of challenges with its work in 10 of the 14 governorates of Syria. The ability to assess needs and monitor program work is hampered by safety issues and bureaucratic hurdles.

Mr. Goldring was visiting the region to see Oxfam’s work with refugees in neighboring Lebanon and to meet with officials in Syria.

He added: “All the humanitarian aid in the world won’t end the crisis in Syria. There needs to be an end to indiscriminate attacks, sieges and concrete movement towards a resolution of the crisis. Only then can the refugees and displaced people I met be able to go home and rebuild their lives.”

Oxfam is currently providing assistance to people both in Syria and in the neighboring countries of Lebanon and Jordan. Oxfam’s $16m operation in Syria began in November 2013.