AFNS responds to the 2024 heat wave in northwest Syria

The summer of 2024 saw a severe heat wave strike northwest Syria, with temperatures reaching 45 degrees Celsius. Such extreme weather events, exacerbated by global climate change, worsen the already challenging conditions faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs). These communities, many of whom reside in overcrowded camps with inadequate infrastructure, faced heightened challenges as water sources dried up or became contaminated, leading to increased health risks from waterborne diseases.

Recognising the escalating water scarcity crisis, the Aid Fund for Northern Syria (AFNS) worked with seven partner NGOs with focus on the WASH sector to take swift action.

Within five days of the WASH Cluster alerting the humanitarian community, AFNS partners were responding to the most affected locations, including Maaretmisreen, Albab, Afrin, Jarablus, and Aldana districts. Safe water was provided to over 130,000 people across 131 camps over a period of three months, using 463,877 USD in reallocated project funds. This emergency assistance will ensure camp residents have essential water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene throughout the summer months.

In addition to the water supply, AFNS allocated funds for rigorous water quality checks and launched an awareness campaign to prevent sunstroke among partner staff and camp residents.

The actions of AFNS and its partners provide a model for future crisis responses. The rapid reallocation of funds, mobilisation of staff, and leveraging of existing agreements with water suppliers enabled a timely response while maintaining strict quality standards.

The swift action and strategic coordination between AFNS and its partners significantly alleviated the suffering of people in northwest Syria during the 2024 heat wave, demonstrating the power of collaborative humanitarian efforts in crisis situations.