Discover how anticipatory action initiatives in Lebanon are building resilience and reducing disaster risks through innovative projects and community-focused solutions.

The population in Northwest Syria is 5.1 million, 4.2 million of which are in need of assistance. Among them, 3.6 million are food-insecure, 3.4 million are internally displaced, and 2 million are living in camps. From 2014 to 2023, the cross-border aid delivery mechanism from Türkiye has served as a critical lifeline to people in Northwest Syria. Based on the consent letter dated 13 July 2023, the Government of Syria granted the UN permission to use the Bab al-Hawa border crossing for humanitarian aid delivery into Northwest Syria. This arrangement eliminated the need for a UN Security Council resolution and, since then, the consent letter to deliver aid has been renewed every six months. A recent Protection Cluster assessment of 259 communities in Northwest Syria revealed limited access to protection services and aid, with 55% of communities reporting no assistance. Another recent assessment conducted by the Education Cluster showed that 54% of schools in the region were affected, with approximately 1,000 schools partially damaged. This has led to an increase in out-of-school children, rising from an estimated 800,000 to 1 million. The ongoing conflict in the area had already compromised sewage networks due to airstrikes, ground battles, and inadequate infrastructure management. These factors resulted in the destruction of wastewater pipelines, rendering substantial portions of the sewage system inoperable. The earthquake also caused significant damage to vital WASH facilities, including the collapse of water reservoirs, towers, stations, and sanitation systems. A REACH assessment indicated that at least 25% of WASH services in Northwest Syria were damaged. This exposure to untreated sewage has contributed to the spread of waterborne diseases, including cholera, typhoid, and gastroenteritis; this posed a significant threat to local water sources and public health. The existing WASH infrastructures, already fragile and inadequate, have been further strained by limited funding.

Aline Rahbany reflects on an event that revealed the urban community, while moving in the right direction, still has important questions to answer. 

Economic instability, natural disasters and conflicts are directly reflected on children’s education quality in Middle East and Eastern Europe (MEER) region.

On the Day of the Girl Child Cristina Carvallo explains why World Vision has decided to prioritise helping girls in the Amazonian territory.

This children’s sensitisation book on climate change aims to help children gain a basic understanding of the issue of climate change and motivate them to take action at a personal level, as well as be change agents in their respective communities. Also, to motivate and facilitate children to collect information on climate change, compile it and present it to others as part of their learning and effort to sensitise others, in a creative manner.

Martha Bedane provides two crucial and easily implementable actions to drive more effective and inclusive governance, accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Empowering families through food security and livelihoods for sustainable growth and a better life.