Press Release
July 2, 2025 • 3 min read
As Syria emerges from more than 14 years of conflict, humanitarian needs remain critical. More than 1.4 million Syrians have returned home since the fall of the Assad Regime in December 2024, including some 400,000 from neighbouring countries, and over 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). However, what communities are returning to is rubble and destruction as the country recovers from over a decade of destruction. With homes now in ruins and basic services non-existent, communities are grappling to rebuild.
Launch of SANAD II
GOAL, with generous funding by the European Union (EU), is launching SANAD II, following the successful completion of SANAD I, which reached over 1.16 million people in 2024 and early 2025 across Northern Syria. This 12-month multi-sectoral humanitarian response will aim to provide lifesaving assistance to over half a million people across Aleppo, Idleb, and Hama governorates, including many in newly accessible areas.
Meeting critical needs through coordinated multi-sectoral support
SANAD II builds on the successes of GOAL’s EU-funded programmes, including SANAD and RELIEF, expanding efforts to address basic needs and strengthen community resilience through:
- Emergency Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) for over 36,000 households, enabling families to meet their most urgent needs with dignity and flexibility.
- WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) services to ensure safe and sufficient water for over 500,000 people while rehabilitating water networks, installing solar-powered solutions, and reducing environmental risks.
- Shelter repairs and rehabilitations to provide safe, dignified living conditions for displaced people, returnees, and vulnerable host communities.
- Rapid emergency response (Crisis Modifier) to support communities affected by sudden shocks from natural disasters to renewed conflict with immediate aid.
- Enhanced humanitarian coordination through interoperability systems that reduce duplication and improve efficiency across aid efforts.
A response to emerging challenges
In the wake of Syria’s recent political changes, the influx of returnees, coupled with ongoing displacement and rising humanitarian needs in newly accessible areas, positions the SANAD II intervention as both urgent and essential. The project will ensure flexible and inclusive assistance, prioritising female-headed households, persons with disabilities, older persons, and families most at risk of exclusion or harm.
Tamer Kirolos, GOAL’s Syria Country Director, said:
“Even as we witness political shifts in Syria, millions of people continue to face immense challenges in rebuilding their lives. SANAD II represents a vital continuation of our mission to support vulnerable communities with lifesaving assistance, while helping them strengthen their resilience in the face of ongoing uncertainty.”
With over 16.5 million Syrians in need of aid and more than 14.5 million facing food insecurity, GOAL’s cash-based assistance and integrated WASH and shelter interventions will help reduce reliance on harmful coping strategies while promoting dignity, safety, and resilience.
The EU’s Continued Support: A lifeline for communities in need
SANAD II is implemented with funding from the EU Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) as part of Europe’s continued solidarity with the people of Syria. The EU’s support is crucial to scaling and sustaining aid in a time of protracted crisis and shrinking humanitarian funding.
About GOAL
GOAL has provided humanitarian assistance in Syria since 2012, working with vulnerable host and displaced populations in urban, rural, and camp settings. GOAL’s integrated response includes WASH, food security, basic needs, nutrition, shelter, disaster preparedness, and emergency relief interventions.
About EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid
The European Union and its Member States are among the world’s leading donors of humanitarian aid, providing lifesaving relief to millions affected by conflict and disaster worldwide. The EU’s humanitarian assistance is delivered through its Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) based on needs, impartiality, and respect for human dignity.
ENDS
