Tahseen
Improving WASH, maintenance, and communal space in displacement camps
Syria
Humanitarian Assistance
2021-2023
Danish MFA
Creating a Safe Environment
The Tahseen Program – meaning “improvement” in Arabic – supports essential and lifesaving service provision, mainly water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and camp maintenance efforts at Al-Hol Camp, and provision of select non-food items in Washokani Camp in northeast Syria. Al-Hol Camp is the largest displacement camp in northeast Syria, housing more than 57,000 people. In coordination with UNHCR and Al-Hol Camp Administration, our engineering teams are working to install approximately 1,000 lighting poles around public facilities, such as latrines. Providing light in these public areas will create a safer environment for camp residents, especially women and children, allowing them to move about freely and use these facilities safely after dark.
Increasing Water Access
Water access is a challenge in displacement camps. Teams will provide households with jerry cans or thermoses to store water safely. Households in both camps will be trained on proper sanitation and storage methods to prevent water contamination. With limited sources of income and access to external markets, camp residents also struggle to secure cooking items and other equipment on their own, so teams are installing cooking stoves.
Keeping Spaces Clean
In camps, residents often share public facilities. Our teams will work with camp block leaders—residents who take on different responsibilities within the community—to foster ownership of the shared spaces. Cleaning supplies will be distributed to support block efforts in ensuring that communal facilities are clean and safe to use.
