The “Our Countryside Deserves” campaign raised more than $76 million in donations, with both official and popular participation, bringing together figures from inside and outside the province. The initiative was jointly organized by the Damascus Countryside Governorate and the Ministry of Culture.
The fundraising event, held on Saturday, September 20, was attended by activists, influencers, and business figures from Damascus countryside, alongside officials including Governor Mohammed Amer al-Sheikh, the Ministers of Culture, Education, and Local Administration, the Turkish and Qatari ambassadors to Syria, Damascus countryside’s Internal Security chief Ahmed al-Dalati, and Suwayda Internal Security chief Hossam al-Tahan.
Donations included local contributions targeting infrastructure, hospitals, and schools across the governorate, as well as regional donations from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Turkey.
Contributions
The Ministry of Local Administration announced a grant of $1 million for each municipality in Damascus countryside to cover local needs.
Civil society groups also took part: the US-based Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) pledged $1.5 million, while the Molham Volunteering Team committed $2 million.
Governor al-Sheikh said the campaign aims to address most of the province’s challenges, particularly in public services. He described the $76 million raised as “historic,” thanking donors for supporting Damascus countryside’s projects.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa phoned the governor to congratulate him on the campaign’s success, praising the people of Damascus countryside for their generosity and promising a near visit to the province.
Minister of Culture Mohammed Yassin Saleh said the campaign has a cultural foundation that highlights the countryside and rural areas as pillars of the Syrian revolutionary movement.
Turkish Ambassador Burhan Koroglu told the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that the campaign is an opportunity to rebuild what the previous regime destroyed.
Damascus countryside’s Internal Security chief al-Dalati said the campaign’s value lies not only in money but in solidarity and cooperation, recalling the sacrifices made by residents.
Yasser Abu Kahala, Syria’s Director of Political Affairs, wrote on X that the campaign was not merely support, but “a long-overdue recognition of people who deserve everything,” referring to the residents of Damascus countryside whose homes were destroyed and families targeted “yet they never sold out their cause.”
Collapsed infrastructure
Baraa Abdulrahman, spokesperson for “Our Countryside Deserves,” told Enab Baladi that the campaign complements earlier initiatives in other provinces such as “Abshiri Horan” in Daraa and “Deir al-Ezz” in Deir Ezzor.
He said Syria’s economic infrastructure is severely damaged, requiring urgent rehabilitation projects, especially in areas nearly destroyed in the war.
According to Abdulrahman, the campaign focuses on reconstructing devastated areas of Damascus countryside, including Eastern Ghouta, Darayya (western countryside), al-Qalamoun, Zabadani, and Madaya.
The campaign aims to build housing units, pave roads, repair water networks, install electricity transformers, and rehabilitate hospitals and public institutions.
Abdulrahman added that further public service projects will be announced in stages by Damascus countryside authorities after the campaign ends, stressing that local communities, activists, and local councils are involved in planning and implementation.
Scale of destruction
A UNHCR report published on August 29 stated that 843,994 Syrian refugees had returned from neighboring countries since December 8, 2024, bringing the total number of returnees since early 2024 to 1,204,864. The report also recorded 1.7 million internally displaced persons returning to their areas.
According to a 2019 UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) atlas based on satellite imagery, destruction levels around Damascus included:
Eastern Ghouta: 9,353 buildings completely destroyed, 13,661 severely damaged, 11,122 partially damaged – a total of 34,136 affected.
Yarmouk camp and al-Hajar al-Aswad (south Damascus): 2,109 buildings completely destroyed, 1,765 severely damaged, 1,615 partially damaged – totaling 5,489.
Zabadani (Damascus countryside): 659 buildings completely destroyed, 1,251 severely damaged, 1,454 partially damaged – totaling 3,364.
‘Our Countryside Deserves’ campaign in Damascus countryside surpasses expectations, raises $76 million Enab Baladi.
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