Two new IDA grants will improve water and health service delivery to 4.5 million Syrians across the country
WASHINGTON, April 23, 2026 - The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved today US$225 million in grant financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to support Syria to enhance the delivery of public services in its water and health sectors. The approved financing package spans two new projects aimed at improving people's lives by securing reliable access to water and sanitation and improving access to quality health services. Both projects are expected to benefit about 4.5 million Syrians across the country.
Fourteen years of conflict have devastated Syria's water infrastructure, reversing decades of development and increasing climate vulnerabilities. More than half of the water supply infrastructure and around 70% of wastewater treatment plants were severely damaged. Water supply declined by around 40% compared to preconflict levels. More than half of the population do not have adequate access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services, and water availability has declined to under 700 cubic meters per capita per year, well below the water scarcity threshold.
Syria's health sector has also been severely affected, resulting in fragmented services, damaged facilities, and weakened sector governance. Challenges in service delivery, workforce shortages, and limited primary health care (PHC) capacity hinder both access and quality of care, resulting in low PHC utilization rates. Public health financing is severely constrained, forcing households to pay high out-of-pocket costs, while Syria's traditional hospital-centric, curative-care model no longer matches current health needs.
"Restoring physical infrastructure and resuming the delivery of essential public services are key pillars of Syria's Statement of National Priorities," said Jean-Christophe Carret, World Bank Division Director, Middle East Department. "As Syria moves forward in its journey toward stabilization and recovery, improved public services across sectors will enhance living conditions, strengthen social cohesion and facilitate the integration of returning refugees and internally displaced persons, in support of the government's No Camps initiative."
The Syria Emergency Water Security and Resilient Services Project (US$150 million) aims to restore bulk water supply and wastewater infrastructure in priority densely populated regions affected by the conflict and address the urgent needs of urban populations, including returning refugees and internally displaced persons. The project will rehabilitate and climate‑proof critical water treatment and transmission infrastructure in Idlib, Homs and Hama, and procure emergency equipment to sustain basic services. The project will also rehabilitate priority wastewater treatment infrastructure to improve sanitation services in Damascus and reduce environmental pollution. Project activities will also support enhancing water resources management and climate resilience through dam safety assessments, water and climate information systems.
The Syria Health System Recovery and Strengthening Project ($75 million) will improve citizens' access to quality health services and strengthen the overall capacity of the public health system in Syria. The project will restore essential primary care and maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition service delivery in 150 high-impact PHC centers across Syria serving large groups of people and benefiting vulnerable populations including internally displaced, returnees, female headed households and disadvantaged host communities. PHC facilities will be selected using a transparent, data-driven approach that prioritizes equity, impact, functionality, service capacity, and accessibility. The project will also strengthen public health capacities for early detection, preparedness, and response to pandemics and health emergencies, while reinforcing the institutional systems and workforce needed to sustain resilient service delivery.
