New ILO project to rehabilitate schools damaged by earthquakes in Aleppo, Syria
The project aims to address immediate livelihood needs of the affected communities through the creation of decent job opportunities, training local contractors in the application of labour-based technologies, and restoring safe access to education.
29 August 2023
Aleppo (ILO News) – The ILO has launched a new project in the norther Syrian city of Aleppo to rehabilitate three schools that were heavily impacted by the earthquakes that struck Northern Syrian in February 2023.
The works will rehabilitate schools in Aleppo’s Al Fordoos, Al Sheikh Saeed and Qadi Askar neighbourhoods, and implemented in partnership with ZOA, an international NGO active in the Governorate of Aleppo.
The initiative applies the ILO’s employment-intensive approach and targets the rehabilitation of schools, which are a cornerstone of community restoration. This approach embraces local labour and resources, reinforcing the local community's active involvement in the recovery process. As attested by local authorities, this approach provides a cost-efficient alternative to a machine-based process.
“In the prevailing economic circumstance in Syria where access to heavy machinery is limited, the labour-intensive approach is often the only sustainable way to enable local business growth,” said ILO Syria Country Coordinator Tomoki Watanabe.
Mr. Feras Al Ali, head of the planning and international cooperation Directorate at the Directorate of education in Aleppo, said: “On the morning of February 6, 2023, the city of Aleppo was struck by a catastrophic earthquake, resulting in severe damage of varying degrees to a significant number of schools in the province. This caused several of them to be rendered inoperative, subsequently depriving numerous students of their rights and opportunities for a quality education.”
“Several international organizations have been contacted to aid in the rehabilitation of these schools, with the aim of reintegrating them into the educational process. The Directorate of Education seizes this opportunity to express gratitude and appreciation to the International Labor Organization for its unwavering support in the realm of education. It is hoped that this collaboration and coordination will continue to flourish in the future,” Al Ali continued.
Ms. Fatima Adlibi, Principal of the Al Mu'tasim School in Aleppo’s Al-Fordoos neighbourhood, said the school used to provide education for 1,336 pupils before the earthquakes struck.
“However, following the earthquake, only 800 students are currently attending school, due to the displacement of residents to other areas. The earthquakes caused sever structural damage to the school. The amenities, including sanitary facilities, doors, windows and paint, were also heavily affected mainly because the school was being utilized as a shelter for individuals immediately after the earthquakes. Consequently, the necessary maintenance and repair work for this school will play a crucial role in ensuring the return of students to an appropriate and conducive learning environment,” Adlibi said.
Upon completion of the works, the project is expected to have created approximately 150 short-term decent employment opportunities, generated 4,000 worker days, actively involved three local contractors in rehabilitation efforts, and provided adequate learning facilities for 3,572 students in the most affected communities. Additionally, the project aims to promote the principles of decent work, including occupational safety and health, throughout the construction sector in the area, contributing to a more resilient and secure future for Aleppo’s residents.
The project aims to address immediate livelihood needs of the affected communities through the creation of decent job opportunities, training local contractors in the application of labour-based technologies, and restoring safe access to education. By combining these elements, the project seeks to lay the foundation for a job-rich recovery process in Aleppo.
The works will rehabilitate schools in Aleppo’s Al Fordoos, Al Sheikh Saeed and Qadi Askar neighbourhoods, and implemented in partnership with ZOA, an international NGO active in the Governorate of Aleppo.
The initiative applies the ILO’s employment-intensive approach and targets the rehabilitation of schools, which are a cornerstone of community restoration. This approach embraces local labour and resources, reinforcing the local community's active involvement in the recovery process. As attested by local authorities, this approach provides a cost-efficient alternative to a machine-based process.
“In the prevailing economic circumstance in Syria where access to heavy machinery is limited, the labour-intensive approach is often the only sustainable way to enable local business growth,” said ILO Syria Country Coordinator Tomoki Watanabe.
“One of the project’s core principles is youth empowerment and gender-responsiveness. Providing equal job opportunities for women and youth will ensure that the benefits derived from the rehabilitated assets are equally distributed across the community,” Watanabe added.In the prevailing economic circumstance in Syria where access to heavy machinery is limited, the labour-intensive approach is often the only sustainable way to enable local business growth
Tomoki Watanabe, ILO Syria Country Coordinator
Mr. Feras Al Ali, head of the planning and international cooperation Directorate at the Directorate of education in Aleppo, said: “On the morning of February 6, 2023, the city of Aleppo was struck by a catastrophic earthquake, resulting in severe damage of varying degrees to a significant number of schools in the province. This caused several of them to be rendered inoperative, subsequently depriving numerous students of their rights and opportunities for a quality education.”
“Several international organizations have been contacted to aid in the rehabilitation of these schools, with the aim of reintegrating them into the educational process. The Directorate of Education seizes this opportunity to express gratitude and appreciation to the International Labor Organization for its unwavering support in the realm of education. It is hoped that this collaboration and coordination will continue to flourish in the future,” Al Ali continued.
Ms. Fatima Adlibi, Principal of the Al Mu'tasim School in Aleppo’s Al-Fordoos neighbourhood, said the school used to provide education for 1,336 pupils before the earthquakes struck.
“However, following the earthquake, only 800 students are currently attending school, due to the displacement of residents to other areas. The earthquakes caused sever structural damage to the school. The amenities, including sanitary facilities, doors, windows and paint, were also heavily affected mainly because the school was being utilized as a shelter for individuals immediately after the earthquakes. Consequently, the necessary maintenance and repair work for this school will play a crucial role in ensuring the return of students to an appropriate and conducive learning environment,” Adlibi said.
Upon completion of the works, the project is expected to have created approximately 150 short-term decent employment opportunities, generated 4,000 worker days, actively involved three local contractors in rehabilitation efforts, and provided adequate learning facilities for 3,572 students in the most affected communities. Additionally, the project aims to promote the principles of decent work, including occupational safety and health, throughout the construction sector in the area, contributing to a more resilient and secure future for Aleppo’s residents.
The project aims to address immediate livelihood needs of the affected communities through the creation of decent job opportunities, training local contractors in the application of labour-based technologies, and restoring safe access to education. By combining these elements, the project seeks to lay the foundation for a job-rich recovery process in Aleppo.