Japan contributes USD 5.5 million for upgrading informal settlements in Syria

The funding will support a two-year project by UN-Habitat, the UN entity responsible for cities and human settlements. It is aimed at improving living conditions in informal settlements – communities that were home to an estimated 40 per cent of Syria’s urban population before the crisis and have since faced widespread destruction.

The contribution agreement was signed today in Nairobi by Mr. Hiroshi Mattura, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Nairobi, and Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat.

The project, titled “Improving Living Conditions in Informal Settlements to Promote Return,” will directly benefit more than 81,000 individuals, including returning refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). The numbers are expected to grow as more Syrians return to their cities. As of 31 July 2025, more than 746,000 Syrians have returned from neighbouring countries, and over 1.5 million IDPs have returned home.

Following the collapse of the previous regime in December 2024 and the devastating earthquakes of February 2023, Syria’s cities have been left with shattered infrastructure, collapsing services, and mounting humanitarian needs. Informal settlements in Aleppo and Homs are particularly vulnerable, lacking access to basic services such as water, electricity, sanitation and safe housing.

UN-Habitat emphasizes a rights-based, inclusive approach focused on rehabilitating urban functions and securing housing, land and property rights. This approach will help safeguard vulnerable populations and avoid potential human rights violations.

Through this partnership, UN-Habitat plans to:

• Develop participatory recovery plans with local communities, including disaster risk reduction strategies;
• Support tenure security, housing, land and property rights for returnees and vulnerable groups;
• Restore essential urban services including water and sanitation systems, electricity, roads, waste management and public spaces.

The Government of Japan is a longstanding partner of UN-Habitat and a leading donor to humanitarian recovery efforts in Syria. Since 2022, Japan has contributed more than USD 21 million in support of UN-Habitat projects aiding vulnerable communities in Syria.

For further information, please contact:

Rima Zeiter, Communication lead in UN-Habitat Syria Programme rima.zeiter@un.org