A workshop titled “Joint National Plan for Developing Northern Syria – Integration of Roles” commenced on Thursday in Gaziantep, Turkey. Organized by the Syrian Civil Society Organizations Working Group, it saw the participation of several representatives from the Syrian interim government and approximately 30 Syrian civil society organizations.
Naziha Akdeniz, the Group’s coordinator, underscored the workshop’s significance in establishing cooperation and coordination mechanisms between the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) and its executive institutions, alongside Syrian civil society organizations operating in liberated areas.
Akdeniz highlighted the workshop’s pivotal role in crafting a joint national plan aimed at alleviating civilian suffering in liberated areas and fostering positive change in Syria.
She stressed the need to adapt to regional and international developments, citing the worsening regional crises, dwindling budgets for international humanitarian support programs, and the alarming poverty rate surpassing 90% in many Syrian families, necessitating a boost in Syria’s production capabilities.
Supervisor of the activities of the Civil Society Organizations Working Group, Firas Al-Masri, emphasized the necessity of developing a comprehensive plan for the advancement of northern Syria. He indicated that the workshop will engage Syrian organizations in discussions on leveraging internal resources, addressing financing gaps, and strategizing across geographical sectors in terms of influence, solvency, and task distribution.
Al-Masri further added: “We will draw upon our local expertise to enhance living conditions in northern Syria. While humanitarian support budgets for Syria have dwindled, and countries have yet to fulfill their obligations, we remain committed to tirelessly working towards alleviating the suffering of our people in northern Syria.”
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
