The cost of rent in urban cities in refugee host countries, such as Turkey, has relentlessly increased, just as refugees continue to deplete their savings. Landlords are increasingly reluctant to rent to unemployed Syrians, and place challenging conditions, including the need to pay up to 6 months of rent in advance. Many refugees lack written leases and are not protected from forced eviction. Repeated displacement creates barriers to emotional recovery and social integration.

Within southern Syria, the need for alternative heating fuel is urgent. The cost of traditional heating fuel has increased nearly five-fold since the start of the conflict. Over the past four winters, IDPs and local residents have deforested parts of the Syrian forest in order to meet their heating needs. RPI’s local partner, Olive Branch, aims to work with the private sector to produce and distribute dried olive pits as biofuel, along with stoves when needed.

In areas of Syria that have been exposed to violent conflict, evacuees are in need of urgent material assistance and shelter upgrades. Windows are often shattered or otherwise damaged and in need of replacement to protect IDPs and local residents from the coming winter weather. Window solutions that are impact resilient and less likely to shatter during shelling and explosions are in particular need, in order to protect civilians from cut glass.

RPI and its local implementing partners are working to meet these needs by:

• Subsidizing rent and securing free housing rentals for IDPs in exchange for shelter repairs
• Upgrading housing to render it fit for habitation: rehabilitating plumbing, windows, doors, and generator connections
• Distributing mattresses, blankets, heaters, fuel, and insulation to civilians evacuated from besieged areas
• Distributing dried olive pulp as an environmentally friendly fuel for heating and cooking
• Monitoring forced evictions and living conditions
• Mediating disputes between landlords and refugee tenants