The Power of Shelter
A home is the foundation of safety, dignity, and resilience.
In the town of Dwebiq, northwest Syria, Mahmud and Radia were among many families who experienced the harsh realities of displacement. With eight people sharing a single, crumbling room and without a kitchen, toilet, or bathroom, their daily life was marked by discomfort, fear, and hardship.
That reality changed when they applied to rehabilitate their shelter through SARD supported by Solidar Suisse. A second room and a dedicated bathroom, toilet, and kitchen were built, transforming not only their shelter but their entire quality of life.
Mahmud, Radia and their child in front of their rehabilitated shelter— Dwebeq, Syria
“Our condition was horrible, like if we were in hell. [...] Today we can sleep easily. We used to sleep all in one room, but now we have two. Our quality of life has improved. The toilet represents the most significant change. [...] We can also take a shower easily after we couldn’t due to the cold.”
For Radia, the simple act of washing dishes while standing in a proper kitchen marked a profound shift.
“As a woman, I didn’t even have a kitchen. I used to sit on the floor to wash the dishes, and it was quite cold. However, the current situation is excellent. We are now quite settled.”
Radia excited to be in her new kitchen. Dwebeq, Syria
Their story is a testament to how restoring shelter means restoring dignity. In 2024, our shelter interventions impacted more than 39,708 individuals in Syria and Türkiye—people living in damaged or unfinished buildings, often without adequate insulation, WASH facilities, or safety from the elements.
We implement two main types of shelter interventions. For internally displaced people living in rented accommodations, we upgrade their shelters and provide one-year rental agreements - what we refer to as shelter upgrades - to ensure safe, dignified, stable housing. For homeowners, we apply a self-help and cash assistance approach - what we refer to as shelter rehabilitations -enabling families to take the lead in rehabilitating their homes according to their own priorities and needs. At the same time, we remain committed to sustainability: installing solar panels, prioritizing local materials, and avoiding harmful substances like asbestos, plastic sheeting, and polycarbonates.
The need remains vast. Since December alone, nearly 600,000 Syrians have returned home. But 7.4 million remain displaced within Syria, and more than 6 million live as refugees around the world.
Meanwhile in Türkiye, the long-term effects of the February 2023 earthquakes are still deeply felt. As of February 2025, 649,632 people remain in container cities. In Adıyaman alone, 118,204 people are still displaced—underscoring the urgent need for sustained, dignified shelter solutions.
We invite you to support our shelter rehabilitation efforts in Syria and Türkiye—because everyone deserves a safe place to call home.