Royal Humanitarian Foundation Signs Agreement with UNHCR Syria to Support Shelter Repairs for Returning Syrian Families

Damascus – 29 January 2026

The Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF) in the Kingdom of Bahrain and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Syria, signed today a USD 2 million grant agreement to support critical shelter rehabilitation for Syrian families returning to Zarbah Sub-District in Aleppo and the city of Harasta in Rural Damascus. The agreement was signed by H.E. Ebrahim Hussain Dalhan Aldosri, Acting Secretary General of the Royal Humanitarian Foundation, and Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, UNHCR Representative in Syria, at the UNHCR premises.

Yesterday, a delegation from the Royal Humanitarian Foundation and UNHCR Syria conducted a field visit to the city of Harasta in Rural Damascus, where they witnessed firsthand the extensive needs required to repair homes and infrastructure severely damaged over the past years. They also met with returnees who are currently unable to live in their homes due to severe damage that has rendered them uninhabitable. The delegation additionally visited a UNHCR-supported community centre in Harasta and listened to women speak about their needs and challenges upon returning home.

Following the fall of the Assad regime on 8 December 2024, some 1.4 million Syrian refugees and around two million internally displaced people have returned to their areas in Syria. After fourteen years of conflict, the scale of destruction to homes and essential infrastructure continues to shape the daily reality of millions across the country. Today, nearly 16.5 million people inside Syria need humanitarian assistance, while an estimated 4.7 million are in need of shelter repair or rehabilitation.

UNHCR Syria works in collaboration with the Syrian Government and local NGO partners to provide comprehensive support for returnees, including shelter assistance, rehabilitation of local infrastructure, and community empowerment.

Through RHF’s generous contribution, UNHCR will rehabilitate approximately 470 damaged housing units, benefiting around 2,350 individuals. This project aims to restore safe and dignified living conditions for vulnerable families returning to heavily affected areas, reduce exposure to protection risks, and support their reintegration into their communities. The intervention will prioritize families with the greatest needs, including female-headed households, persons with disabilities, and socioeconomically vulnerable returnees, using a needs-based and gender- and diversity-sensitive approach.

The rehabilitation works will include the repair of walls, roofs, and foundations to restore basic safety and stability, as well as the installation or repair of essential features such as doors, windows, and secure locking systems. Electrical networks will be rehabilitated, and solar lighting solutions will be provided to support households in areas with limited or unreliable electricity. The project will also include the restoration of key water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities such as toilets, water tanks, piping networks, and solar water heaters, ensuring that returning families have access to clean water and safe hygiene conditions.

H.E. Ebrahim Hussain Dalhan Aldosri, Acting Secretary General of the Royal Humanitarian Foundation, reaffirmed RHF’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and contributing to Syria’s recovery. He emphasized that enabling Syrian families to return to safe and adequate housing is a vital step toward long‑term stability, resilience, and renewed hope.

UNHCR Representative Gonzalo Vargas Llosa welcomed the support, noting that it comes at a pivotal time for fSyrians to rebuild their lives after years of conflict and displacement. He underscored that safe housing is essential to protection, dignity, and stability, and expressed UNHCR’s deep appreciation for the Royal Humanitarian Foundation’s commitment to supporting the Syrian people during this critical phase.

This partnership between RHF and UNHCR represents a significant contribution to early recovery and reintegration efforts in Syria, offering renewed hope for families striving to rebuild their lives with safety, dignity, and stability.

For more information, please contact:

• In Damascus: Celine Schmitt, [email protected], +963 (0) 989 050 400
• In Damascus: Vivian Toumeh, [email protected], +963 (0) 988 098 860