Empowering Al Kalamoun: solar energy boosts water sustainability in Syrian displaced persons camp

“As long as there is sunshine, there is water. It was never this easy before,” says Ramzi, who was displaced to Al Kalamoun camp due to the Syrian conflict.  

Close to the Turkish border, Al Kalamoun camp is part of Al Kammouneh – the largest site for displaced people in North-West Syria, opened in mid-2022. The site was built to house people displaced by the Syrian conflict and living in informal settlements around the area and, after 2023, also people who lost their houses in the earthquake.  

When the 6,000 people arrived in Al Kalamoun camp, there were no water wells, so they had to rely on commercial water trucking to meet their needs. They spent a lot of money buying water from private companies to fill their water tanks, a costly expense for households already struggling to cover their basic needs.  

As soon as July 2022, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL began providing access to water via water pumps. Seven wells were drilled by SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL as well as other local and international actors, relying on diesel generators to pump the water. 

Before the solarisation of Al Kalamoun water station, water outages occurred whenever the diesel generator broke down or when there was a fuel shortage. 

“We used to impose strict rules on water usage,” says Jabal, an Al Kalamoun resident. “The diesel generator and water pump malfunctioned frequently, and we were worried about fuel shortages too.”  

When the generator for the water pump broke, and the household water tanks emptied, residents had to buy water from private water trucking companies, which proved expensive and often below drinking water quality standards. Each 200-liter barrel costs 10 Turkish lira (approximately 0.27 euro), which most camp residents could not afford.  

To address these issues, in July 2024, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL completed the installation of a solar system in Al Kalamoun camp, converting the water pump generator from fossil fuels to solar power when there is sunlight. 

Moreover, this transition eliminated the constant noise and pollution caused by the diesel generator. “The diesel generator noise was constant throughout the day, and it often broke” explains Um Ahmad, “when I passed by the generator, I wondered how the neighbours living close to it could put up with such constant noise.”

Likewise, Um Ala’a, a resident in the camp for 3 years, explains that before the solarisation project, “The air was always polluted; the smell of the generator’s fumes filled the camp.”

“We hope that more solar panels will be added to provide water for more hours to more households in the area” says Jabal, adding that “it is crucial to use water proportionally to needs, avoid waste, and report any damage to the system.”  

Indeed, it is residents and local camp management’s responsibility, supported by the water unit of the Local Council, to maintain the project suggesting that water pumping be combined with maintaining the installations, providing beneficiaries with water tanks, and considering the slope of the land to maximise water networks. All these upgrades will allow residents to meet their water needs without relying on private water trucking or other sources. 

“Indeed, it is the responsibility of the camp’s residents and managers, supported by the Local Council’s water services unit, to make the project sustainable. This means maintaining the pumping installations, providing beneficiaries with water storage and considering terrain constraints, such as slope, to maximize the efficiency of the water networks. All these improvements should enable residents to meet their water needs without relying on private water tankers or other sources.“ 

As noted by the camp management, there are still high needs for sustainable projects such as this one to support other camps and residents in the wider Al Kammouneh area.  

Header photo : © SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL