CSO – NES News:
The CSO – NES started its activities in March with a productive meeting that brought together a delegation from the Local Council of Raqqa, along with the technical team, and the office of the Municipalities Authority in Raqqa, as part of the mobilization and advocacy campaign. Multiple topics were discussed, including sewage systems, street paving, sidewalk restoration, and filling dangerous potholes that pose a risk to the lives of civilians. Additionally, the rehabilitation of parks was addressed, with the participation of the authority and civil society organizations. There was also a discussion about establishing specific hours for regular garbage collection, along with a proposal for a morning and evening shift system to address the accumulated waste in the streets.
Following that, a delegation from the Local Council of Deir ez-Zor and the technical team of the coalition visited the Health Authority office for NES in Raqqa, as part of the mobilization and advocacy campaign focusing on the health situation in Deir ez-Zor. The meeting emphasized the needs and challenges facing the health sector, and it highlighted the importance of opening a specialized department for Cardiac Catheterization and the necessity of having a specialized technical staff in this field.
After that, health expert Dr. Kassar Ali and the technical team met with the Health Authority office in Tabqa. The discussion revolved around the health situation in the city of Tabqa and its countryside, as well as the necessary needs to support this sector. The meeting focused on establishing a
mechanism for cooperation between the two parties to improve the health situation.
In the same week, the local council of the Euphrates region and the technical team also met with the Office of Organizational Affairs for NES in Raqqa, as part of the mobilization and advocacy campaign. Several issues were discussed, including:
1. The informal camps and the lack of services in them.
2. The coordination mechanism between civil society organizations and the Organizational Affairs Authority for NES.
3. The proposal to form an emergency committee by humanitarian and civil society organizations to work on the frontlines that international organizations avoid.
On March 10, 34 local organizations launched the third phase of the reforestation campaign called “Seeds of Resilience.” During this phase, 200 trees were planted in the city of Qamishli, north of Martyr Youssef Kalo Square. It’s worth noting that the “Seeds of Resilience” campaign aims to increase green areas in water-scarce Hasakah due to the climate conditions and Turkish policies of using water as a weapon against the people of the region. Additionally, the campaign aims to enhance civil work, promote the concept of environmental responsibility, and foster unity against the targeting of infrastructure.
As the Newroz holiday approaches, on March 17, the coalition participated in a campaign to raise awareness about the harm caused by burning tires during this mentioned holiday. The campaign statement reads:
“We congratulate all the people and components of the region on the occasion of the Newroz holiday, a holiday that symbolizes the renewal of nature, love, tolerance, brotherhood, and joy. However, in recent years and as a result of decades of oppression by the Syrian government and the
prohibition of celebrating Newroz and lighting the Newroz flame, some negative phenomena have entered the celebration methods. One of these phenomena is the burning of rubber tires on the eve of Newroz, which has serious negative effects on the environment and human health, as they are composed of impure organic materials. When burned, they release toxic gases into the air, including:
– Carbon monoxide (CO)
– Carbon dioxide (CO2)
– Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
– Suspended solid particles (H2H)”
Furthermore, burning tires cause serious phenomena such as global warming, acid rain, and respiratory diseases, in addition to the unsightly appearance it creates.
Therefore, the true essence of Newroz as a day of liberation from oppression and the beginning of spring, symbolized by its flame, is not limited to the burning of tires, which are environmentally and public health-hazardous methods. Instead, tires can be replaced with more civilized and environmentally friendly symbols such as candles or torches, for example.
We, the coalition and the civil society organizations operating in NES, support and endorse the campaign launched by the Environment Committee in the schools of al-Jazira region to collaborate in reducing this negative phenomenon that gives a false and uncivilized impression of the true essence and symbolism of Newroz.
At the end of March, a forum titled “The Reality of the Agricultural Sector in NES” was held following the presentation of a research report prepared by Dr. Abdelrahim Khalif. The report was the result of multiple meetings and sessions held in various areas of NES. The report examined the agricultural reality, crops, and animal production, highlighting the challenges, difficulties, strengths, and intervention methods to improve and support this sector. It is worth mentioning that this forum is part of a series of upcoming forums that will explore the reality of the agriculture, health, and education sectors as part of the academic and research activities of the CSO – NES in collaboration with specialized experts in these fields.
Posts of CSO – NES on social media platforms
A snapshot from the start of the agricultural forum in NES, held in the city of Qamishli, under the title The Reality of the Agricultural Sector in NES
من ملتقى "واقع القطاع الزراعي في شمال وشرق سوريا" pic.twitter.com/ReHyfO7wUN
— CSO – NES (@NesCso) March 31, 2024
Snapshots from a meeting between a delegation from the Local Board of Deir ez-Zor and the technical team of the coalition with the office of the Health Authority for NES in Raqqa, as part of the campaign to mobilize and advocate for the healthcare reality in Deir ez-Zor.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02mwJaXCUSxg 4B5cqZPyHwDUA6YvBwNxvpwYxbWRLcLe3CqYbCStFaW21JLWHMmd8 Fl&id=100075781364334
News of organizations affiliated with the CSO – NES
Under the sponsorship of Ensaf for Development organization, 15 young men and women from the city of Hajin were trained in photography as part of the “Tales of Deir ez-Zor” project. An exhibition was held to showcase the photographs taken by the trainees.
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The Syrian Center for Studies and Dialogue (SCSD) has initiated a project to provide case management training for the Social Care Center in Raqqa, in partnership with the Basic Services Program supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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As part of the second phase of its project “Empowering Civil Society Organizations in Syria to Provide Local Response Services,” Demos Organization has completed a three-day training workshop on annual planning in the city of Qamishli. The workshop involved the participation of 10 participants representing partner organizations from NES.