Rebuilding sanitation, protecting health in Damascus
UNICEF restored vital sewage services with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the KfW Development Bank
Tadamon, Damascus – Years of conflict have severely damaged essential public services across Syria, with water and sanitation systems among the most affected. In Tadamon, a densely populated neighbourhood in Damascus that experienced intense fighting, large parts of the sewage network were destroyed. As security conditions improved and families began returning, the deteriorated sanitation system posed growing public health risks, particularly for children and women.
Limited financial resources prevented local sanitation authorities from carrying out urgent repairs. As a result, sewage blockages and overflows became widespread, increasing the risk of wastewater contaminating drinking water sources and heightening the likelihood of outbreaks of diarrhoea, hepatitis A and other waterborne diseases in an already vulnerable community.
In response, UNICEF supported the rehabilitation of the main sewage network between September 2025 and January 2026. The intervention included replacing damaged pipes, constructing manholes, reconnecting households, and restoring roads to re-establish safe and sustainable wastewater management.
The rehabilitated network now provides reliable sanitation services to more than 200,000 people, most of them children and women. By reducing health risks, improving living conditions, and supporting the safe return of families, the intervention has strengthened public health protection and contributed to the recovery and resilience of a community emerging from years of crisis.
“My children used to get sick all the time, particularly with breathing problems. When sewage flooded the streets, germs spread everywhere. Those days are over now, and I feel truly grateful.”
“I don’t need to put plastic bags on my feet anymore to cross the street when sewage overflows. It used to bother me a lot.”
“I am visiting the area to assess whether my family could return. The rehabilitation of the sewage network is a positive step that reassures families and supports safe returns.”
“I live in a small room and manage life with difficulty after my children left. The biggest problem used to be sewage flooding, but now we are relieved of that for good.”
“Our street used to be full of holes and open drains, and I was always afraid my children might fall in. Now, they go about their daily routines safely, and I feel at ease.”
“Before, street flooding would halt our work as we cleaned up the mess. Thanks to the rehabilitation works, I can concentrate on my job now.”
“My brother and I used to help each other jump over sewage floods while holding our noses because of the bad smell. Since the rehabilitation works, all of that has stopped.”
“Before, the day would begin with a foul smell that made me feel down. Today, everything feels clean and joyful.”
“I didn’t like the neighbourhood when we moved here because of the smell. Now I love my home, and I play with my cousins near my house.”
