Qatar Red Crescent Society restores irrigation infrastructure in Afrin
Doha: Work on a project to rebuild the irrigation system and pumping station in Afrin is continuing in the food security and livelihood sector in northern Syria. The initiative is financed by the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) (SCHF) and implemented by the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS).
The initiative led by the Qatar Red Crescent Society seeks to guarantee a sustainable source of livelihood for farmers in northern Syria by restoring irrigation canals and engaging local and displaced populations in the rehabilitation works.
Out of 63 km of irrigation canals, 50 km have been insulated thus far. The pumping station has been fully refurbished, including engine and pump repairs. In order to run the station, an electricity supply system was also developed.
All remaining tasks, such as restoring the pumping facility, fixing underground irrigation pipes, installing water metres for farmers, and teaching local councils to operate pumps and distribute water to farmers during irrigation seasons, will continue to be worked on.
Supplementary irrigation will be given for wheat crops in northern Syria towards the end of the project to help them withstand the dry season and climatic changes.
SCHF is a multi-donor Country Based Pooled Fund (CBPF) established in 2014 in response to UN Security Resolutions 2139 and 2165. The Fund, which is administered by OCHA’s Turkey Humanitarian Financing Unit (HFU), is guided by the Syria Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP).
