Syrian government to develop social and aid programs
Social Affairs Ministry and the Danish Refugees Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate in the field of development and social programs in Syria.
According to the press office in the ministry, the MoU was signed on Wednesday by Minister of Social Affairs Reem al-Qaderi and the regional director of the Danish council in Damascus.
It aims to develop programs of social care and humanitarian aid being offered to persons affected by the nearly five-year-old crisis in Syria, especially women and children.
The signature of the MoU came two weeks after the ‘Civil Syrian Association’ had wrapped up activities for training 120 members and heads from civil society organizations under supervision of Social Affairs and Administrative Development Ministries.
The civil society organizations [also known as non-governmental organizations (NGOs)]have played a pivotal role in alleviating the suffering of affected people inside Syria.
This role will be more effective in the future.
The number of licensed civil organizations in Syria hit 1240 in 2009, half of them were charity, according to Social Affairs Ministry’s statistics.
2016 humanitarian response plan
On November 18, 2015, the Higher Committee of Relief tackled the 2016 humanitarian response plan and measures to ensure the arrival of aid to all people in need in all provinces without politicization and discrimination.
The strategic goal in the 2016 plan is to ensure the return of displaced people to their homes in the areas to which the Syrian army restored peace and stability, according to Deputy Prime Minister for Service Affairs, Omar Ghalawanji.
He was quoted on the official news agency (SANA) as saying that the plan must contribute to reviving the local economic cycle in cities and towns to empower the locals to make a living for themselves and their families through giving them loans and training courses.
The Syrian government provides 80 % of aid, while the remaining 20 % is provided by the international organizations.
Basma Qaddour