How Market Rehabilitation is a Key Driver of Early Recovery in Syria
At SARD, we believe that market rehabilitation is a key driver of Early Recovery in Syria. Since 2021, SARD has rehabilitated 26 markets impacting almost 17,000 individuals.
Rehabilitated Dabeq Market, Syria. Watch a video overview here.
Why Markets Matter
Markets are more than spaces for commerce—they are vital social, economic, and cultural hubs. When operational, they enable people to access food, goods, and services, while offering a platform for small businesses, farmers, and traders to earn a living. They bring farmers, shopkeepers, and consumers together in daily exchange, building relationships and strengthening the bonds that hold communities together. In Syria’s transitional and fragile post-conflict context—where conflict has damaged infrastructure, disrupted local economies, and fractured the social fabric—reviving markets does more than rebuild roads and shops: it helps rebuild communities.
Customers shopping at the rehabilitated Dabeq Market, Syria
Market Rehabilitation as a Key Early Recovery Strategy
SARD’s market rehabilitation efforts are aligned with global early recovery priorities outlined by actors such as UNDP, OCHA, and Early Recovery clusters. These initiatives aim to bridge humanitarian response with long-term development, helping people not just survive but recover with dignity.
By focusing on functional restoration, we ensure that once markets are repaired, economic life can resume often quickly. And when it does, community members see their lives change, reminding us that rehabilitating a market is far from anecdotal.
Why We Use Interlocking Blocks: Building Better, Smarter, and Greener
As part of our commitment to sustainability and innovation as an organization, SARD was one of the first organizations to implement interlocking concrete blocks at scale in northwest Syria. This approach has proven to be a critical improvement over traditional paving methods—particularly in conflict-affected, climate-vulnerable, resource-constrained contexts.
Compared to traditional paving methods, interlocking blocks offer a wide range of advantages that align with both the urgency of recovery and the need for long-term resilience. They are low-maintenance, durable, weather-resistant, and far easier to repair than poured concrete or asphalt. In areas prone to seasonal flooding or heavy foot traffic—like local markets—this makes a tangible difference in daily life and economic activity.
We also value the environmental benefits. Interlocking blocks are more sustainable than solid surfaces; they use less cement, produce lower emissions during production, and are easier to reuse or replace, reducing waste. Their design allows for better water drainage, helping to mitigate flooding and erosion—critical concerns in Syria’s fragile and climate-affected landscape.
By choosing interlocking blocks, we are not just rebuilding markets and roads—we are investing in a method that restores access, protects the environment, and strengthens communities from the ground up.
A Story from the Field: Husam’s stall at the Dabiq Bazaar
Husam, 28, is a market vendor in the Dabiq Bazaar in northern Syria. Before the market's rehabilitation, Husam and other vendors faced enormous challenges. Unpaved streets riddled with holes and a lack of drainage made it nearly impossible to work during the winter months. Flooded roads kept customers away, leaving vendors like Husam unable to earn a stable income.
“Before the road was rehabilitated, the situation was really difficult. The street wasn’t paved and was full of holes... On days with heavy rain, we couldn’t even work. We’d have to stay home because the roads were completely flooded.”
When SARD rehabilitated the market streets, sidewalks, and installed solar-powered street lights, the transformation was immediate. The road was paved, proper drainage was installed, and accessibility significantly improved. Commercial activity surged, and Husam, along with other vendors, began to see a steady rise in customers and income.
“Thanks to these improvements, more people are coming to the market, and commercial activities have really picked up. It’s been a big help, not just for me, but for the whole community.”
Husam, 28 year old vendor preparing his spices and dried goods for sale
Economic Impact: Stimulating Recovery from the Ground Up
When markets reopen, cash starts circulating again. Local producers can sell their goods, businesses rehire staff, and families gain better access to affordable essentials. These ripple effects make market rehabilitation one of the most cost-effective, high-impact investments in early recovery.
Through projects like the one in Dabiq Bazaar, SARD helps maximize the long-term resilience of the communities we serve.
“Things have improved so much, and business is going really well now. I’m so grateful to the local council and everyone who worked on this project. Before, it was a struggle for anyone to come to the market because the street would flood with water. Now, the situation is amazing, and we couldn’t be happier.”
Looking Ahead
As early recovery efforts expand in Syria and other similar contexts, SARD remains committed to locally driven, early recovery programming. Market rehabilitation is not just about rebuilding structures or transportation—it’s about restoring opportunity, dignity, and the vital rhythm of everyday life.
When markets thrive, communities do too.