War's toll on water access

After 14 years of war, thousands of people in Syria are still without access to clean water. The conflict has led to the destruction of essential infrastructure and displacement, making access to clean water and sanitation difficult for millions.

Humanitarian efforts underway

As 15.6 million people still require humanitarian assistance, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is intervening to improve access to this essential resource. Since December 2024, approximately 1.7 million refugees and 1.9 million displaced people have returned to their communities.

Challenges of returning home

Many find damaged infrastructure and services, greatly disrupting the water supply. When clean water is lacking, the consequences go beyond daily difficulties, with waterborne diseases developing more easily and medical care becoming more difficult to provide.

Importance of clean water

Charlie Hardstone, MSF's water and sanitation coordinator, explains that "we need access to clean water. Water may appear clean while containing bacteria and other dangerous contaminants for health." This distinction is important in a context where damaged infrastructure, overcrowded living conditions, and disrupted public services increase the risk of contamination.

Improving access through projects

Between March 2025 and June 2026, MSF implemented five water supply projects benefiting 50,000 people. These interventions include the rehabilitation of water stations, the repair of wells, and the installation of solar-powered supply systems.

Projects in specific areas

In Anjara, MSF installed two wells equipped with solar pumps, improving access to water for approximately 21,000 people. In Kefrin and Hajer Al-Aswad, in the rural area of Damascus, MSF drilled three wells, installed two solar-powered supply systems, and restored a water station and a water tower.

Impact of floods

The floods of May 2026 damaged approximately 50 water stations in the northeast of Syria. Four of them have since been rehabilitated, including in areas that had experienced a cholera epidemic in 2022. A second wave of floods in August 2026 further weakened access to water in the region.

MSF's response to floods

In response, MSF is intervening in several governorates: In Raqqa, one station has already been restored and work continues on 11 others. In Deir ez-Zor, MSF teams have restored the Al Hari station, improving access to clean water for about 11,000 people.

Supporting displaced populations

In Hassaké, more than 3.5 million liters of water have been transported by truck to displaced people. MSF has also donated a desalination unit capable of producing 800,000 liters of water per day, in collaboration with the Water Directorate and the Syrian Ministry of Energy.

Sanitation challenges in camps

In displaced persons camps, access to sanitation facilities can become a daily challenge. Khouloud lives with nine members of her family in a tent in a displaced persons camp in the Daraa province, in southern Syria.

Improvements in camp facilities

In July 2025, fighting forced her family, like hundreds of thousands of others, to flee the neighboring province of Soueïda. In these camps, access to sanitation facilities can become a daily challenge. "Before the installation of showers and latrines, we didn't know where to go to meet our needs. The facilities have made our lives much easier," testifies Khouloud.

Infrastructure improvements in Daraa

In nearly 40 displacement sites in Daraa, MSF teams have installed 117 latrines and showers. At the Nawa hospital, which serves patients from the region and the neighboring Kuneitra province, MSF provides about 70,000 liters of water per month, or nearly 50% of the hospital's monthly needs.

Risks of poor waste management

Poor waste management can contaminate soil and water sources and promote the proliferation of pests, thereby increasing the risk of disease. Their collection, treatment, and disposal under hygienic conditions are therefore essential for the health of the population.

Medical waste management

In Raqqa, a medical waste management facility managed by MSF is now operational. It serves 13 care centers. In Aleppo, a new facility is under construction, and discussions are underway for installations in the rural areas of Damascus, Raqqa, and Daraa.

Broader MSF efforts

MSF's work in Syria includes supporting hospitals and health centers weakened by the conflict by providing emergency care, maternal and child health care, and mental health care. Their teams also work with displaced populations to ensure the management of chronic diseases, access to clean water, and sanitation.