The Syrian Development Fund (SYDF) announced an initial allocation of $15 million to support education, health, economic empowerment, war debris removal, and early warning and emergency response systems, based on field assessments conducted across Syrian governorates.  The fund said Thursday via its official Facebook page that the targeted intervention areas were identified through a joint study with the ministries of health, education, and emergency and disaster management, with the aim of directly addressing the needs of communities on the ground.  The SYDF stressed that the selection of intervention areas was not based solely on desk reports, but drew on field realities, the accounts of returnees, and conditions in areas where residents have already returned and life is gradually resuming — as well as areas preparing for imminent returns and others facing clear service gaps.  The fund said the first allocation is designed to deliver donations where they are genuinely needed, giving families the opportunity to return and settle with dignity, providing children with safe schools, and ensuring patients have access to medical care. It pledged to publish full details of the allocation process, implementation mechanisms, and selection criteria with complete transparency.  The announcement follows the fund’s Q1 2026 performance report, which showed total pledges and donations of $83 million since its launch in September 2025, with actual collections exceeding $41 million as of March 31 — a 46 percent collection rate against registered pledges, signaling the fund’s transition from the institution-building phase to operational readiness. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Syrian Arab News Agency