Press Release
July 30, 2026 • 2 min read
New integrated humanitarian programme will support more than 440,000 vulnerable people through cash assistance, shelter rehabilitation and essential water and sanitation services.
GOAL today announced the launch of BRIDGE, a new 12-month humanitarian programme funded by the European Union. Delivered in partnership with Syrian organisations Shafak and Action for Humanity (AFH), the programme will support 440,448 vulnerable people across four governorates through emergency cash assistance, shelter rehabilitation, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services.
Syria remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. An estimated 16.5 million people require humanitarian assistance, while 7.4 million people remain internally displaced. Although more than 3.5 million people have returned home since December 2024, many are returning to communities where homes, essential services and livelihoods have been devastated, making recovery an immense challenge.
BRIDGE has been designed to address the interconnected challenges families face as they return home. By combining emergency cash assistance, shelter rehabilitation and improvements to essential services within one integrated programme, it aims to help households meet immediate needs while supporting longer-term recovery and resilience.
The programme will support 440,448 vulnerable people across four governorates
“Millions of people in Syria are returning to communities where homes, water systems and livelihoods have been devastated,” said Tamer Kirolos, Syria Country Director, GOAL. “BRIDGE brings together cash assistance, shelter and essential services because these challenges cannot be solved in isolation. Working alongside our Syrian partners, Shafak and Action for Humanity, we’re helping families move beyond survival and begin rebuilding their lives with dignity.”
The programme combines emergency cash assistance, shelter rehabilitation, improvements to water and sanitation infrastructure, and strengthened humanitarian coordination to provide a more joined-up response to humanitarian needs. It also includes a built-in crisis response mechanism that enables GOAL and its partners to rapidly scale up life-saving assistance when new emergencies arise.
BRIDGE is being delivered in close partnership with Shafak and Action for Humanity, ensuring the programme is shaped by local knowledge, community priorities and long-standing operational experience. This locally led approach reflects GOAL’s commitment to strengthening the role of Syrian organisations in delivering effective humanitarian assistance.
Designed to respond to changing humanitarian needs, BRIDGE combines immediate humanitarian assistance with support that helps families stabilise, restore essential services and strengthen community resilience. Through continuous community engagement and ongoing assessments, the programme will remain flexible and responsive as needs evolve.
