January 23, 2026
News
Until recently, Majed from Syria had to buy expensive water for his entire family every three days. Today, thanks to Caritas Czech Republic, he has his own source of clean water, sufficient both for household needs and for irrigating crops. In collaboration with the organisation Takaful Al-Sham, we put into operation the local pumping station and restored the water supply network. As a result, Majed no longer has to pay for water and can save money instead.
Expensive water put pressure on the family budget
Majed comes from the village of Kaljibrin in the Azaz area, where we also helped a local restaurant owner, Kamal, gain access to drinking water. According to Majed, the local community urgently needed a functioning water pumping system. “We used to have an old water network, but water never reached us, and we did not get a single litre of it,” says Majed.
In the past, his family had to buy ten barrels of water every three days, which cost Majed 100 Turkish lira (around 48 Czech crowns). This expense placed a significant burden on his household budget. Other families in the village were facing financial difficulties as well.
We often waited a long time for the tanker to arrive, which was exhausting and caused significant hardship, especially for families who could not afford it,
describes Majed.
Water has brought relief to the entire community
Therefore, the restoration of the pumping station and water network brought great relief to the local community. Households can now access water regularly and free of charge. There is enough water not only for hygiene, housework and cooking, but also for irrigating crops, which are an important source of livelihood for Majed’s family.
Photo: The restored access to water improved life in the local community
The water is also high-quality and safe, so residents no longer need to worry about health risks from contaminated water.
We would like to thank Caritas Czech Republic, the local authorities and everyone involved in this project, including the contractors, who worked with great commitment,
says Majed.
Life in Syria remains full of challenges
Although the restored water source has significantly eased the lives of the Kaljibrin population, local people continue to face many other challenges of everyday life. For example, roads are in urgent need of repair, and the electricity supply situation remains difficult.
The main power line coming from the Azaz route is weak, and sometimes the voltage drops to as low as 160 volts, which has caused some of our electrical appliances to burn out,
Majed explains and adds that local farmers are also experiencing obstacles, as their crops are deteriorating. “There is a pressing need for fertilisers, pesticides, and seeds, and the village needs organisations to support this sector.” Thus, Majed hopes that assistance from local and international organisations will continue.
Photo: People in Syrie need humanitarian aid
Caritas Czech Republic in Syria
Caritas Czech Republic has been working in Syria for more than ten years. We monitor the country’s security situation in the context of the long-term civil war. According to data from 2025, more than 16 million Syrians need humanitarian assistance. Last year, our activities were supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and by our fundraising campaign for Syria. Our work there continues.
Photo: Caritas Czech Republic has been operating in Syria for more than ten years
In February 2023, we helped communities cope with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. Currently, we are also focusing on raising awareness of gender-based violence, which often affects women and girls in the country.
Alongside our Syrian water supply projects, we also work to establish hygiene and sanitation standards in the country. We provide similar support, for example, in Ethiopia, where, thanks to our work, a mother of two children, Almaz, now has access to a local water source.
